Psychology

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    “It's how they found relief and comfort from all the tragedies that life throws at them on a regular basis”: Exploring the association between trauma, opioid use, and opioid use disorder in Washington D.C.
    (2024) Brown, Imani; Magidson, Jessica F; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    In Washington D.C, African American residents of underserved neighborhoods are disproportionately affected by opioid use (OU), opioid use disorder (OUD), and opioid overdose deaths (OOD), highlighting the need for a more effective intervention to address these issues. Existing literature indicates an association between OUD and trauma, but this relationship is minimally explored in urban, African American communities. This study aimed to qualitatively explore the association between trauma, OU, and OUD from the perspective of community leaders and clinicians (N=78) working in Wards 7&8 of DC, the neighborhoods hardest hit by the problem. Data showed that interpersonal and intergenerational trauma contributed directly to OU and OUD, and that historical trauma and structural violence act synergistically with other traumas to contribute to OU and OUD. Findings suggest a need for early interventions to address the harmful effects of interpersonal and intergenerational trauma and underscore a need for culturally informed political and socio-economic interventions to address structural violence and historical trauma that perpetuate trauma, OU, and OUD.
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    Working toward anti-racist perspectives in attachment theory, research, and practice
    (Taylor & Francis, 2021-09-16) Stern, Jessica A.; Barbarin, Oscar; Cassidy, Jude
    Recent social movements have illuminated systemic inequities in U.S. society, including within the social sciences. Thus, it is essential that attachment researchers and practitioners engage in reflection and action to work toward anti-racist perspectives in the field. Our aims in this paper are (1) to share the generative conversations and debates that arose in preparing the Special Issue of Attachment & Human Development, “Attachment Perspectives on Race, Prejudice, and Anti-Racism”; and (2) to propose key considerations for working toward anti-racist perspectives in the field of attachment. We provide recommendations for enriching attachment theory (e.g. considering relations between caregivers’ racial-ethnic socialization and secure base provision), research (e.g. increasing the representation of African American researchers and participants), and practice (e.g. advocating for policies that reduce systemic inequities in family supports). Finally, we suggest two relevant models integrating attachment theory with perspectives from Black youth development as guides for future research.
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    The Intersection of HIV Infection with HIV/AIDS Beliefs among African Americans
    (2007-08-02) Walton, Heather M.; Fassinger, Ruth E.; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    This dissertation describes a qualitative study of 15 African American, HIV-positive individuals who were clients in a day treatment program at an HIV clinic in the Washington, DC, area. Data were collected through semistructured interviews; grounded theory methodology was used to generate a theory of how the participants gave meaning to HIV. The theoretical model included Personal Context, Support and Education, Socio-cultural Meaning, and Personal Meaning, all of which related to the formation of a global meaning regarding HIV. The emergent theoretical model and its components are presented, and the implications of the study for research, practice, and advocacy are discussed.