Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA in Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Elizabeth Brondolo

Abstract

Discrimination has been shown to have negative effects on mental health (Vargas et al., 2020). Studies have shown that experiencing and perceiving racism can lead to symptoms of depression in Black individuals (Gayman & Barragan, 2013). Though this problem exists, there are limited methods and solutions presented that address the effects of racism on depression (Brondolo et al., 2009). Empirical research has not yielded clear findings on the best strategies for addressing discrimination. This limits the guidance that can be provided to people as they attempt to alleviate the concern associated with discrimination. Further, individuals may experience distress and discomfort when attempting to vocalize their feelings about these concerns, and healthcare providers have been shown to experience the same discomfort (Livingston, 2018). While diversity and cultural awareness training have been implemented in healthcare settings, healthcare providers may still feel that it does not adequately prepare them to have to address racism related concerns with patients (Sempertegui et al., 2018 ). Despite the minimal resources available to help providers feel sufficiently informed about best practices for having conversations about racism and depression, psychoeducational materials can potentially serve as a means to facilitate conversations. Psychoeducation can be beneficial for both patients and providers because it prepares both with a framework and language for discussing difficult subjects. Psychoeducation can also assist in structuring a conversation about race and depression that is thought provoking and helpful. In this study, we developed a psychoeducational material that targets depression and the effects that discrimination may have on depression. This psychoeducational material is intended to help support conversations about these topics. In this thesis, we examine the consumer satisfaction of participants when using and viewing the booklet. Consumer satisfaction is measured quantitatively among university students, and measured qualitatively among mental health care providers.

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