Religious Coping, Well-Being, and Denominational
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RELIGIOUS COPING, WELL-BEING, AND DENOMINATIONAL AFFILIATION AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN A Dissertation by JANELLE ERICA NEWKIRK Submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Chair of Committee, Charles R. Ridley Committee Members, Kimberly Vannest Donnalee Dox Glenda Byrns Head of Department, Shanna Hagan-Burke August 2017 Major Subject: Counseling Psychology Copyright 2017 Janelle Erica Newkirk ABSTRACT African-American women are considered one of the most religious cultural groups in the United States. Despite high levels of religiosity within this group, various stressors associated with experienced racism, sexism, and other life occurrences require coping as a method to endure negative experiences. While coping through religion is not uncommon, researchers sought to explore how different beliefs impacted the coping process among African-American women. This study investigated religious coping methods, well-being, and denominational affiliation of African-American women in three Protestant denominations where African Americans are highly represented: African Methodist Episcopal, Baptist (as governed by the National Baptist Convention, USA), and Church of God in Christ. The participant sample (N=202) was drawn from 14 churches in Houston, Texas and Bryan, Texas and ranged in age from 18 to 94. Participants completed surveys pertaining to demographics, religious coping methods, and current well-being. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to justify variable creation for positive and negative religious coping methods; a regression analysis determined if religious coping methods and denominational affiliation affected well-being; and a moderating regression analysis and ANOVA F-tests were used to determine overall and individual denominational effects in the relationship between religious coping and well-being. Overall there was no relationship between religious coping, well-being, and denominational affiliation. No relationship was found between positive religious coping methods and well-being, but negative coping methods were associated with lower well- ii being. Also, there was no relationship found between religious coping methods and well- being and well-being and denominational affiliation. iii ACKNOWELDGEMENTS My achievements within my graduate program, including this dissertation, were not accomplished singlehandedly; rather, I have persevered during this grueling and extensive journey called graduate school through the collective efforts, prayer, and support that have draped my shoulders. I would like to thank the members of the numerous churches in Bryan, Texas and Houston, Texas who participated in this project, as well as the members of my undergraduate research lab, who covered major ground in data collection and inputting, allowing this dissertation to come to fruition. As promised, I mention them all by name: Lacie Bihms, Kennedi Govan, Hassanna Mahamane, Rachel Maize, Marquette Pradia, and Eric Washington. We were an amazing team; I thank them. I must also thank my advisor, Dr. Charles Ridley, for his mentorship and guidance throughout this project and my entire graduate school experience. I flourished with his encouragement and challenge to move beyond my box of comfortability and “press towards the mark” of graduation. I have grown tremendously under his care as a researcher, professional, and even as a Christian. I also thank my dissertation committee and Richard Payne, my statistics consultant, for feedback and assistance in the completion of this project. I would like to thank my home church family, North Main COGIC in Houston, Texas, which is under the leadership of Pastor Willie J. Collins. My church family has constantly supported me spiritually, monetarily, and with numerous words of affirmation. I would like to thank my biggest cheerleaders, my parents, for their iv understanding, love, and assistance in every aspect of this journey. Most importantly, I thank God for His direction and for being the captain of my life despite my unavailing efforts to take the wheel. Every experience has illuminated more reasons why His love and having a personal relationship with Him matters most. v CONTRIBUTORS AND FUNDING SOURCES Contributors This work was supported by a dissertation committee consisting of Professors Charles Ridley, Kimberly Vannest, and Glenda Byrns of the Department of Educational Psychology and Professor Donnalee Dox of the Department of Performance Studies. T The analyses depicted in Chapter IV were conducted in part by Richard Payne of the Department of Statistics on behalf of the student, but were not previously published. All other work conducted for the dissertation was completed by the student independently. Funding Sources This graduate study was not supported by any fellowship or financial assistance from Texas A&M University. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................. iv CONTRIBUTORS AND FUNDING SOURCES ............................................................ vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................. vii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ ix CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1 Purpose Statement ............................................................................................ 4 Theoretical Framework .................................................................................... 4 Research Questions .......................................................................................... 5 Delimitations .................................................................................................... 6 Limitations ....................................................................................................... 7 Assumptions ..................................................................................................... 7 Definition of Terms .......................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................ 9 Gender, Race, and Religion .............................................................................. 9 African-American Women ............................................................................. 15 Religious Coping ............................................................................................ 19 Well-Being ..................................................................................................... 23 An Exploration of Christian Denominations .................................................. 27 CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY ................................................................................... 37 Participants ..................................................................................................... 37 Procedures ...................................................................................................... 39 Measures ......................................................................................................... 40 Data Analysis ................................................................................................. 42 CHAPTER IV RESULTS ................................................................................................ 44 Measure Outcomes ......................................................................................... 44 Confirmatory Factor Analysis ........................................................................ 50 Regression Analysis ....................................................................................... 53 v i i Moderating Regression Analysis ................................................................... 55 ANOVA F-test ............................................................................................... 56 CHAPTER V CONCLUSION ......................................................................................... 57 Religious Coping, Well-Being, and Denominational Affiliation ................... 57 Religious Coping and Well-Being ................................................................. 59 Religious Coping and Denominational Affiliation ........................................ 64 Denominational Affiliation and Well-Being .................................................. 64 Denominational Observations ........................................................................ 65 Limitations of the Study ................................................................................. 69 Further Implications ....................................................................................... 70 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 75 APPENDIX A. CHURCH RECRUITMENT LETTER .................................................. 88 APPENDIX B. CHURCH CONSENT FORM ................................................................ 89 APPENDIX C. STUDY MATERIALS ..........................................................................