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ABSTRACT
Mental health treatment utilization is low among Black undergraduate women, despite the prevalence of mental health stressors and difficulties. The consideration of pre-treatment preferences and expectations may help address this disparity. The current study is an attempted replication and extension of prior findings demonstrating race-based differences in preferences and expectations. The sample consisted of 369 undergraduate women (Black:35.2%, White:64.8%; Mage = 21.59 [SD = 6.21]). Responses to several self-report questionnaires were compared across racial groups demonstrating several small-sized differences. For example, Black women had stronger expectations and preferences for most or all therapy sessions to involve venting, getting advice, and learning about mental health and new skills. Additionally, Black participants had stronger preferences for emotional intensity in treatment. Individuals are more likely to engage with treatment when their views are considered and these findings can encourage conversations about these perspectives and tailored treatment approaches with Black undergraduate women.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data availability statement
Data is available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author.
Notes
1. Race refers to a socially and politically created construct based on physical (e.g., skin color; Markus, Citation2008) and behavioral characteristics rather than biological characteristics. Racialized experiences influence how individuals are treated and viewed by others, and in turn, can impact how individuals of diverse racial backgrounds view and interact with the world. As such, comparisons of racial groups are examining effects of inequality and differential opportunity and experiences, not differences in biological factors (see Roberts et al., Citation2020).
2. Two participants entered preferred or expected age of 0 and 1. These were considered missing data.
3. The item for family therapy asked participants to assume their family is willing. The item for couples therapy asked participants to assume they have a partner who is willing.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Jacob A. Finn
Dr. Finn’s contribution to this manuscript is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN. The views, opinions, and/or findings contained in this article are those of the authors and should not be construed as an official US Department of Veterans Affairs or any other federal agency position, policy, or decision unless so designated by other official documentation.