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ERIC Number: ED534137
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 215
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: ISBN-978-1-1249-9108-5
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Relationship among Alexithymia, Attachment Styles, and Racial Identity of African American Women in a Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Facility
Sutherland, Vickie Mecshell
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Texas A&M University - Commerce
Epidemiological studies have shown that substance abuse among African American women is occurring at an alarming rate that exceeds rates for White women. The heightened use of alcohol and drugs among African American women is a problem that resulted from their racial, historical, and structural position in American society. The literature reveals the primary factors contributing to psychological distress and causing these women to turn to drugs as a way of escape are (a) childhood trauma and life stresses, (b) discrimination and racism, (c) victimization due to gender oppression, (d) economic and social marginality, and (e) powerlessness and alienation. The historically favored, traditional disease/medical model of substance abuse treatment has been marginally successful with African American women. This model fails to address issues of cultural differences and discounts their environmental influences. Studies have shown that drug treatment services fail to adequately address cultural, racial, and gender needs that are specific to African American women. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among alexithymia, attachment styles, and racial identity of African American in a residential substance abuse treatment facility. This study was based on a convenience sample of fifty-eight African American women in a metropolitan treatment center. Participants completed the following instruments: (a) demographic questionnaire, (b) Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), (c) Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-R), and (d) Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity (MIBI). The sample yielded three groups of alexithymic participants: (a) fifteen were low alexithymic, (b) seventeen were moderate alexithymic, and (c) twenty-six were high alexithymic. The highest mean scores were on the Private Regard subscale on the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity. The lowest mean scores were on the Attachment-related Anxiety and Attachment-related Avoidance subscales of the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised Questionnaire. A Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was used to determine if there was statistical significance among alexithymia, attachment styles, and racial identity. MANOVA model assumptions were met. There was statistical significance on the Nationalist subscale and between the Assimilation and the Oppressed Minority subscales on the MIBI. It is important to note that the participants seemed to have made the same racial adjustments inside of the controlled environment as they had in society. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A