Black women are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than white women but more likely to be adversely affected. However, little attention has been paid to how these women cope with the disease. Using a comparative design, this study analyzes the differences in religiousness between black and white women with breast cancer. Findings suggest that black women rely on religiousness as a coping resource to a greater extent than white women. Implications for how this information can be used in social work practice with black women are discussed.

African American women are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than white women but are more likely to be adversely affected. However, little attention has been paid to how these women cope with the disease or whether they differ from white women in coping with breast cancer. Using a comparative design, this study analyzed the differences in coping strategies and use of social support between African American and white women with breast cancer. Findings suggest that both groups tend to seek social support as a way of coping with their breast cancer but differ in their sources of support. Social workers are urged to consider that there may be differences in sources of social support between racially and ethnically diverse populations. These differences may have an impact on the type of support provided and therefore on patients' need for service. ABSTRACT. African American women are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than white women but are more likely to be adversely affected. However, little attention has been paid to how these women cope with the disease or whether they differ from white women in coping with breast cancer. Using a comparative design, this study analyzed the differences in coping strategies and use of social support between African American and white women with breast cancer. Findings suggest that both groups tend to seek social support as a way of coping with their breast cancer but differ in their sources of support. Social workers are urged to consider that there may be differences in sources of social support between racially and ethnically diverse populations. These differences may have an impact on the type of support provided and therefore on patients' need for service.

Extensive research documents that children of depressed mothers are at a significantly higher risk for developing a variety of socioemotional difficulties than children of nondepressed mothers. Yet, little prevention research has been conducted for this population, and low-income, minority, and urban families are rarely included. To address this deficit, we are developing the Protecting Families Program (PFP), a family-based multicomponent depression prevention program for mothers in treatment at urban community mental health agencies and their school-aged children. To inform intervention development and begin relationship building with the agencies, patient and staff focus groups were conducted in the participating agencies. Eighteen mothers with depression participated, and eight major themes were identified: (1) depression symptoms, (2) generational legacy, (3) parenting difficulties, (4) child problems, (5) social support, (6) stressful life events, (7) therapy and other helpful activities, and (8) desired treatment. In the focus groups with 10 mental health providers, the five major themes identified were parenting difficulties, lack of social support, life stress, current mental health practices, and intervention development. The findings support the multicomponent design of PFP, which focuses on increasing knowledge of depression, enhancing social support, and improving parenting skills. The study helped clarify many of the challenges of conducting research in a community mental health system.

Results of a comparative study of interviews with 102 women (61 white, 41 black) who were treated for breast cancer suggest that black women have more difficulty in social functioning, especially the resumption of household activities. Implications for social work practice are discussed.

This article presents information on the methodology used in conducting focus groups with women with severe psychiatric disabilities. The purpose of the focus groups was to understand the experiences of low-income women with severe psychiatric disabilities in accessing and using primary health care services. Discussed are the design decisions researchers should reflect on when constructing and conducting focus groups with women with severe psychiatric disabilities. Information on how guidelines from the literature on conducting focus groups were adapted for these women as well as lessons learned from this experience are presented.