School of Public Health

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Comparison of Structural Interaction Patterns in African American and Caucasian Clinical Couples: The Moderating Effect of Financial Resources
(2012) Hart, John Rennie; Epstein, Dr. Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
This study focused on degrees to which African American and Caucasian couples who have sought couple therapy at a community clinic differ on measures of relationship boundaries and power/hierarchy. Potential effects that financial resources may have on the relationship between couples' ethnic group membership and their structural patterns were examined. The sample was 77 couples who previously were assessed and treated at a university-based clinic. These two ethnic groups were examined in order to explore potential cultural differences in relationship interaction patterns. Results showed there were no significant ethnic group differences for the three structural dimensions other than a trend for Caucasian couples to exhibit more autonomy between partners than African American couples. There were moderating effects of financial resources in relation to the boundary between the partners and for power dynamics. No significant gender differences were found other than males being more likely to perceive their partner as controlling.
Understanding Bulimia: A Qualitative Exploration of the Roles of Race, Culture, and Family
(2008-07-21) Southard, Ashley Larsen; Leslie, Leigh A.; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
The eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, is a serious physical and mental illness destroying the lives of millions of men, women, and their families. It is characterized by recurrent binge eating and compensatory behaviors (e.g., self-induced vomiting), and afflicts 1-5% of the general U.S. population. Unlike other eating disorders that appear to affect specific racial groups, bulimia more equally affects people of all races. Yet, very little attention has been given to learning about the ways in which women from diverse racial/cultural backgrounds experience bulimia. Thus, the present qualitative study explored the question: How do young African American, Latina, and Caucasian women describe their experiences with bulimia within their racial, cultural, and familial contexts? Open-ended, in-person interviews were conducted with 33 young adult women (ages 18-30) who self-identified as African American, Latina, or Caucasian and who experienced bulimia while living with a parent. Questions were based on sensitizing concepts taken from feminist and family systems theories, and encouraged women to explore their perceptions of how their racial, cultural, and familial contexts influenced their experiences with bulimia. A modified grounded theory approach was used to interpret the data, and findings were organized at sociocultural, familial, and individual levels. Common experiences for many of the women, regardless of race, included sociocultural pressure to be thin; unhealthy family environments that included poor communication, strained relationships, and emphasis on members' appearances; and individual management of comorbid psychological disorders and emotions. Unique processes related to African American women's and Latinas' experiences with bulimia included living in a bicultural context with cultural and familial stigmas surrounding mental health. Additionally, African American women reported overall healthier family environments, in which they had supportive relationships and more open communication. Based on these findings, the theoretical framework was enhanced with race- and culture-specific models. Implications for research related to diverse families' experiences with eating disorders, policies designed to help people of all backgrounds affected by eating disorders, as well as the development of culturally sensitive therapy interventions for families affected by bulimia are discussed.
Emergency Preparedness: Knowledge and Perceptions of Latin American Immigrants
(1999) Carter-Pokras, Olivia; Zambrana, Ruth E.; Mora, Sonia E.; Aaby, Katherine A.
This paper describes the level of public emergency knowledge and perceptions of risks among Latin American immigrants, and their preferred and actual sources of emergency preparedness information (including warning signals). Five Latino community member focus groups, and one focus group of community health workers, were conducted in a suburban county of Washington D.C. (N51). Participants came from 13 Latin American countries, and 64.7% immigrated during the previous five years. Participants had difficulty defining emergency and reported a wide range of perceived personal emergency risks: immigration problems; crime, personal insecurity, gangs; home/traffic accidents; home fires; environmental problems; and snipers. As in previous studies, few participants had received information on emergency preparedness, and most did not have an emergency plan. Findings regarding key messages and motivating factors can be used to develop clear, prioritized messages for communication regarding emergencies and emergency preparedness for Latin American immigrant communities in the U.S.

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