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“Too Blessed to be Stressed”: A Rural Faith Community’s Views of African-American Males and Depression

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Abstract

Among African-Americans, the faith community has a long history of providing support to its members. Because African-American men tend to delay and decline traditional depression treatment, the faith community may be an effective source of support. The aim of this study was to determine how a rural African-American faith community describes and perceives experiences of depression among African-American males. A convenience sample of 24 men and women participated in focus groups and interview. Four themes were identified: defining depression, etiology of depression, denial of depression, and effect of masculine roles on depression experience.

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Acknowledgments

The funding received for the study was from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, AHEC Pilot Grant. Support was received from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Translational Research Institute (UL1RR029884) and the KL2 Scholar Program (KL2RR029883). UAMS Office of Grants and Scientific Publications provided the authors editing services.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Translational Research Institute KL2 Scholar, College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Slot #529, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA

    Keneshia Bryant

  2. Translational Research Institute KL2 Scholar, Department of Psychiatry, Health Services Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Slot #755, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA

    Tiffany Haynes

  3. Division of Research Practice and Improvement, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4021 West 8th Street, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA

    Nancy Greer-Williams

  4. Area Health Education Center-Northeast, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 223 East Jackson, Jonesboro, AR, 72401, USA

    Mary S. Hartwig

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  1. Keneshia Bryant
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  2. Tiffany Haynes
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  3. Nancy Greer-Williams
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  4. Mary S. Hartwig
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Correspondence to Keneshia Bryant.

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Bryant, K., Haynes, T., Greer-Williams, N. et al. “Too Blessed to be Stressed”: A Rural Faith Community’s Views of African-American Males and Depression. J Relig Health 53, 796–808 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-012-9672-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-012-9672-z

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