An Exploratory Study of the Perceived Well-Being of African-American Families in Time of Crisis and Its Relationship to Their Use of Resources Within the Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia Area, 2009

Shuttlesworth, Angela M.

2000-2009

As the United States is in the midst of a proclaimed time of economic distress it is essential to identify the methods which families demonstrate skills of survival. This study is based on the premise that African-Americans have a self-made kin support system and culture which provide resources and skills for the betterment of the family unit. A quantitative methods design is used to identify and prioritize the resources and behaviors utilized by African-American families in time of declared economic crisis. Through the Africultural Coping Skills inventory this study identifies that African-American families within the Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia area use a great deal of the identified cultural-specific coping mechanisms. In addition, results from the modified version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale demonstrate that the study participant, who served as their African-American family representative, perceived their well-being as positive. A thorough analysis of the study's resulting data and a discussion are provided alongside review of concepts from Afrocentric theory and resource exchange theory. Several recommendations are provided as a result of this analysis and discussion. Recommendations are also provided in hopes of ensuring that continuous efforts are made to document and expose the positive attributes found within African-American family and culture are noted as a natural form of resilience.

text

application/pdf

2009-07-01

dissertation

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Clark Atlanta University

School of Social Work, Sociology

Waymer, Robert W.
Lyle, Richard
Akinyela, Makungu

Clark Atlanta University

Georgia--Atlanta

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12322/cau.td:2009_shuttlesworth_angela_m