Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hope, Resilience, and African-American Spirituality

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Racism and Psychiatry

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Psychiatry ((CCPSY))

Abstract

Spirituality is a significant source of strength and coping within the African-American community, and it is an effective buffer against the effects of racism and oppression. While diverse faith traditions have intersected with African-American culture throughout history, this chapter focuses on the role of Christianity, and specifically the black church, in shaping individual and collective resilience in the face of social hostility. In addition to exploring the spiritual role of the church in African-American life, the chapter explores the clinical utility of religious involvement through an analysis of the church as a supportive structure for individuals and communities. We discuss strategies for incorporating spirituality into mental health care, thereby empowering clinicians to address an important, but often neglected, aspect of African-American identity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Koenig HG, Larson DB, McCullough ME. Handbook of religion and health. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2001.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  2. Levin JS. God, faith, and health: exploring the spirituality–healing connection. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Meraviglia M. Critical analysis of spirituality and its empirical indicators. J Holist Nurs. 1999;17(1):18–33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Banks-Wallace J, Parks L. It’s all sacred: African American women’s perspectives on spirituality. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2004;25(1):25–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Frame M, Williams C, Green E. Balm in Gilead: spiritual dimensions in counseling African-American women. J Multicult Couns Dev. 1999;27(4):182–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Klonoff EA, Landrine H. Belief in the healing power of prayer: prevalence and health correlates for African-Americans. West J Black Stud. 1996;20(4):207–10.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Mattis JS. African-American women’s definitions of spirituality and religiosity. J Black Psychol. 2000;26(1):101–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Mattis JS. Religion and spirituality in the meaning-making and coping experiences of African-American women: a qualitative analysis. Psychol Women Quart. 2002;26:309–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Musgrave CF, Allen E, Allen C, Gregory J. Spirituality and health for women of color. Am J Public Health. 2002;92(4):557–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Newlin K, Knafl K, Melkus GD. African-American spirituality: a concept analysis. Adv Nurs Sci. 2002;25(2):57–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Holt CL, Lewellyn LA, Rathweg MJ. Exploring religion–health mediators among African American parishioners. J Health Psychol. 2005;10(4):511–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Lewis LM, Hankin S, Reynolds D, Ogedegbe G. African-American spirituality: a process of honoring God, others, and self. J Holist Nurs. 2007;25(1):16–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Lewis LM. Spiritual assessment in African-Americans: a review of measures of spirituality used in research. J Religion Health. 2008;47(4):458–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Pew Research Center. A religious portrait of African Americans. 2009. http://www.pewforum.org/2009/01/30/a-religious-portrait-of-african-americans/#section-ii-religious-beliefs-and-practices.

  15. Aaron KF, Levine D, Burstin HR. African American church participation and health care practices. J Gen Intern Med. 2003;18:908–13. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2003.20936.

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Davey MP, Watson MF. Engaging African Americans in therapy: integrating a public policy and family therapy perspective. Contemp Fam Ther. 2008;30:31–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-007-9053-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Bell-Tolliver L, Wilkerson P. The use of spirituality and kinship as contributors to successful therapy outcomes with African American families. J Relig Spiritual Soc Work Soc Thought. 2011;30:48–70. https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2011.542723.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Lincoln CE, Mamiya LH. The black Church in the African American experience. Durham: Duke University Press; 1990.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  19. Whitley R. “Thank you God”: religion and recovery from dual diagnosis among low-income African Americans. Transcult Psychiatry. 2012;49:87–104. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363461511425099.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Belgrave FZ, Allison KW. African American psychology: from Africa to America. Thousand Oaks: Sage; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kobler F. Letters of Jews through the ages, vol. 1. 2nd ed. London: East and West Library; 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Sanneh LO. West African Christianity: the religious impact. Maryknoll: Orbis Books; 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Mbiti JS. African religions & philosophy. Oxford: Heinemann; 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Battle MJ. The black church in America: African American Christian spirituality. Malden: Blackwell; 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Green DS, Driver ED. W.E.B. DuBois on sociology and the black community. Chicago: University of Chicago Press; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  26. We shall not be moved. Featuring Ambassador Andrew Young, Dr. Benjamin Hooks, Melba Pattillo Beals, Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles, and more. Narration by Ossie Davis; 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Griffith EE, English T, Mayfield V. Possession, prayer, and testimony: therapeutic aspects of the Wednesday night meeting in a black church. Psychiatry. 1980;43:120–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Griffith EE. The impact of sociocultural factors on a church-based healing model. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 1983;53:291–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Griffith EE, Young JL, Smith DL. An analysis of the therapeutic elements in a black church service. Hospital Commun Psychiat. 1984;35:464–9.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Griffith EE, Mahy GE. Psychological benefits of spiritual Baptist “mourning”. Am J Psychiatr. 1984;141:769–73.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. McRae MB, Carey PM, Anderson-Scott R. Black churches as therapeutic systems: a group process perspective. Health Educ Behav. 1998;25:778–89.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Thompson DA, McRae MB. The need to belong: a theory of the therapeutic function of the black church tradition. Couns Values. 2001;46:40–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Murray C. African traditions in Christianity; methods including call and response, dramatic preaching style drawn from ancestors. Philadelphia Tribune 2006; 122(26).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Caldwell HL. African American music, spirituals: the fundamental communal music of black Americans. Culver City: Ikoro Communications; 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Griffith EE, Mathewson MA. Communitas and charisma in black church service. J Natl Med Assoc. 1981;73(11):1023–7.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Baumeister RF, Leary MR. The need to belong: desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychol Bull. 1995;117:497–529.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Chatters LM, Taylor RJ, Lincoln KD, Shroepfer T. Patterns of informal support from family and church members among African Americans. J Black Stud. 2002;33:66–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Taylor RJ, Chatters LM, Levin J. Religion in the lives of African Americans: social, psychological and health perspectives. Thousand Oaks: Sage; 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Krause N. Exploring race differences in a comprehensive battery of church based social support measures. Rev Relig Res. 2002;44(2):126–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Krause N, Bastida E. Social relationships in the church during late life: assessing differences between African Americans, whites, and Mexican Americans. Rev Relig Res. 2011;53:41–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Lee JY. Marginality: the key to multicultural theology. Minneapolis: Fortress Press; 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Taylor RJ, Chatters LM. Church members as a source of informal social support. Rev Relig Res. 1988;30(2):193–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Chatters LM, Nguyen AW, Taylor RJ. Religion and spirituality among older African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics. In: Whitfield KE, Baker TA, editors. Handbook of minority aging. New York: Springer; 2014. p. 47–64.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Krause N, Ellison CG, Shaw BA, Marcum JP, Boardman JD. Church-based social support and religious coping. J Sci Study Relig. 2001;40:637–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Taylor RJ, Chatters LM, Lincoln K, Woodward AT. Church-based exchanges of informal social support among African Americans. Race Soc Probl. 2017;9(1):53–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Chatters LM, Taylor RJ, Lincoln KD, Nguyen A, Joe S. Church-based social support and suicidality among African Americans and black Caribbeans. Arch Suicide Res. 2011;15:337–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Chatters LM, Taylor RJ, Woodward AT, Nicklett EJ. Social support from church and family members and depressive symptoms among older African Americans. Am J Geriatr Psychiatr. 2015;23:559–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Krause N. Church-based social support and mortality. J Gerontol B-Psychol Soc Sci. 2006;61:S140–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Rook KS. The negative side of social interaction: impact on psychological well-being. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1984;46:1097–108.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Krause N, Chatters LM, Meltzer T, Morgan DL. Negative interaction in the church: insights from focus groups with older adults. Rev Relig Res. 2000;41(4):510–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Ellison CG, Zhang W, Krause N, Marcum JP. Does negative interaction in the church increase psychological distress? Longitudinal findings from the Presbyterian panel survey. Sociol Relig. 2009;70:409–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Krause N, Ellison CG, Wulff KM. Church-based emotional support, negative interaction, and psychological well-being: findings from a national sample of Presbyterians. J Sci Study Relig. 1998;37:725–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Williams DR, Neighbors HW, Jackson JS. Racial/ethnic discrimination and health: findings from community studies. Am J Public Health. 2003;93(2):200–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Roberts JD. In: Goatley EM, editor. Black religion, black theology. Harrisburg: Trinity Press International; 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Gatterson BAK. Church dress: oral narratives of African American women. Graduate theses and dissertations; 2016. http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/15916.

  56. Williams L. In defense of the church hat. New York: New York Times; 1996. https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/12/nyregion/in-defense-of-the-church-hat.html

    Google Scholar 

  57. Pargament K. The psychology of religion and coping: theory, research, and practice. New York: Guilford; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Bierman A. Does religion buffer the effects of discrimination on mental health? Differing effects by race. J Sci Stud Religion. 2006;45(4):551–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Pollner M. Divine relations, social relations, and well-being. J Health Soc Behav. 1989;30:92–104.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Foley DP. Eleven interpretations of personal suffering. J Relig Health. 1988;27:321–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Sunden H. What is the next step to be taken in the study of religious life? Harv Theol Rev. 1965;58:445–51.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Wikstrom O. Attribution, roles, and religion: a theoretical analysis of Sunden's role theory and the attributional approach to religious experience. J Sci Study Relig. 1987;26:390–400.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Spilka B, Schmidt G. General attribution theory for the psychology of religion: the influence of event-character on attributions to God. J Sci Study Religion. 1983;22:326–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Capps D. Religion and psychological well-being. In: Hammond PE, editor. The sacred in a secular age: toward revision in the scientific study of religion. Berkeley: University of California Press; 1985. p. 237–56.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Ellison CW, editor. Your better self: Christianity, psychology, and self-esteem. New York: Harper & Row; 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Watson PJ, Morris RJ, Hood RW. Sin and self-functioning, part II: grace, guilt, and psychological adjustment. J Psychol Theol. 1988;16:270–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  67. The Grio. Do black churches push prosperity at expense of social justice? 2011. https://thegrio.com/2011/10/28/do-black-churches-push-prosperity-at-expense-of-social-justice/. 28 Oct 2011.

  68. American Counseling Association. Competencies for addressing spiritual and religious issues in counseling. 2005. https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/competencies/competencies-for-addressing-spiritual-and-religious-issues-in-counseling.pdf.

  69. Massey K, Fitchett G, Roberts P. Assessment and diagnosis in spiritual care. In: Mauk KL, Shmidt NK, editors. Spiritual care in nursing practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 2004. p. 209–42.

    Google Scholar 

  70. VandeCreek L, Lucas AM, editors. The discipline for pastoral care giving: foundations for outcome oriented chaplaincy. New York: The Haworth Pastoral Press; 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Luchetti G, Bassi RM, Lucchetti AL. Taking spiritual history in clinical practice: a systematic review of instruments. Explore. 2013;9(3):159–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2013.02.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Medlock MM, Rosmarin DH. Outpatient psychiatry. In: Peteet, J, Dell M, and Fung W, editors. Ethical Considerations at the Intersection of Psychiatry and Religion. Oxford University Press; 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Hankerson W. Church-based health programs for mental disorders among African Americans: a review. Psychiatr Serv. 2012;63(3):243–9. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201100216.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  74. Brunette-Hill S, Finke R. A time for every purpose: updating and extending Blizzard’s survey on clergy time allocation. Rev Relig Res. 1999;41:47–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  75. Gottlieb JF, Olfson M. Current referral practices of mental health care providers. Hosp Commun Psychiat. 1987;38:1171–81.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Mollica RF, Streets FJ, Boscarino J, et al. A community study of formal pastoral counseling activities of the clergy. Am J Psychiatr. 1986;143:323–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Mobley MF, Katz EK, Elkins RL. Academic psychiatry and the clergy: an analysis of ministerial referrals. Hosp Commun Psychiat. 1985;36:79–81.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Winett RA, Majors JS, Stewart G. Mental health treatment and referral practices of clergy and physician caregivers. J Community Psychol. 1979;7:318–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  79. Avent JR. What then shall we say to these things? An investigation of African American pastors’ response to mental health needs in the black church and their influence on African American help-seeking behaviors and coping strategies. Greensboro: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Therapist, Washington, DC, USA

    Kean Baxter

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA

    Morgan M. Medlock

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Ezra E. H. Griffith

Authors
  1. Kean Baxter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Morgan M. Medlock
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ezra E. H. Griffith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Morgan M. Medlock .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA

    Morgan M. Medlock

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Derri Shtasel

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Nhi-Ha T. Trinh

  4. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    David R. Williams

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Baxter, K., Medlock, M.M., Griffith, E.E.H. (2019). Hope, Resilience, and African-American Spirituality. In: Medlock, M., Shtasel, D., Trinh, NH., Williams, D. (eds) Racism and Psychiatry. Current Clinical Psychiatry. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90197-8_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90197-8_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-90196-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-90197-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation