Primary Submission Category: Life-course/developmental
‘Yeah, it was bad. But I’m tough. And they didn’t know I was tough’: An Exploratory Qualitative Analysis of Life Stressors among older Black Americans in St. Louis
Authors: Akilah Collins-Anderson,
Presenting Author: Akilah Collins-Anderson*
Objective: Qualitatively explore and provide an account of major stressors identified in the life narratives of older Black Americans. Methods: This analysis used 2017-2018 data drawn from the St. Louis Personality and Network study and applies a life course perspective lens. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify patterns in life narratives interviews of a random 20% sample of Black participants (N= 48). Data analysis involved an iterative process (i.e., continuous development of new codes and constant comparison of themes) using NVivo. Results: The analysis revealed three dominant stressors throughout the narratives: illness, death of loved ones, and family. It further uncovered health-related challenges (e.g., frustration and mistrust towards medical professionals, burdens of caregiving) as well as contextual stressors (e.g., lack of guidance from older kin, discrimination, and influence from the church). Thematically, the findings are presented as: confronting major health challenges and loss, embracing faith and returning amidst adversity, and forging mental fortitude and mindset. Conclusion: The narratives provided insights into older Black individuals’ perspectives and personal experiences regarding stressors. These findings underscore the necessity for mental health researchers to consider the intersecting factors that Black Americans encounter throughout their lives that can significantly affect their mental well-being. Additionally, the results indicate that further investigation into interconnected stress could offer a compelling explanation for why Black Americans might find it challenging to prioritize their mental health.