Healing in the Midst of Chaos: Nah We Yone's African Women's Wellness Group

Akinsulure‐Smith, Adeyinka M.; Ghiglione, Jessica B.; Wollmershauser, Carrie

doi:10.1080/02703140802384602

Cited by 23 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Social-ecological factors that may be important include collectivist identity and neighborhood surveillance. African cultures are generally collectivist, valuing social support coupled with social responsibility over individualism (Akinsulure-Smith et al, 2009; Charlés, 2009; Guerin et al, 2006; Whittaker et al, 2005). Collective responsibility for childcare in West Africa is reflected in the common practices of distributive care and child fostering, in which parents send their children to be raised temporarily by other family members or close friends.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“911” among West African immigrants in New York City: A qualitative study of parents' disciplinary practices and their perceptions of child welfare authorities

Rasmussen

Akinsulure‐Smith

Chu

et al. 2012

Social Science & Medicine

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Immigrant parents’ perceptions of child protective services may have important implications for their engagement in public institutions that are central to their children’s well being. The current study examined West African immigrants’ perceptions of child welfare authorities and the role of disciplining and monitoring in these communities’ meaning making. A multiethnic group of 59 West African immigrants (32 parents and 27 adolescent children) living in the United States were interviewed in 18 focus groups and eight individual interviews between December 2009 and July 2010. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach; strategies for rigor included triangulation (multiple interview formats, varied composition of groups, multiple coders for each transcript), verification (follow-up interviewing, feedback to community-based organizations), and auditability. Primary among parents’ concerns were “911” (used to refer to the police and child protective authorities), the loss of collective child monitoring networks, and threats to their children posed by “American” values and neighborhood violence. Children were concerned with parents’ close monitoring that resulted in boredom and a sense that parents did not recognize them for adhering to their families’ values. Feedback from CBOs suggested that parents got their information about child protective policies from children but that although misinformed they were accurate in their negative assessment of contact. Not unlike in other urban populations, West African immigrants’ disciplinary tactics are instrumental, oriented towards protecting their children from the multiple dangers perceived in their surroundings, but may also put them at risk for contact with child protective services. Results suggest that “911” results from a “loss spiral” (Hobfoll, 1989) that begins as West Africans resettle without collective child monitoring networks, leading to increased concern for their children’s safety, and interacting with a school-home disciplinary mismatch that may increase the likelihood of contact with child protection. Hobfoll, S. (1989). Conservation of resources theory: A new attempt and conceptualizing stress. American Psychologist, 44(3), 513–524.

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confidence: 99%

“911” among West African immigrants in New York City: A qualitative study of parents' disciplinary practices and their perceptions of child welfare authorities

Rasmussen

Akinsulure‐Smith

Chu

et al. 2012

Social Science & Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Finally, given that group discussion is the preferred mode of discourse in many African societies and practitioners have noted that this extends to emotional and psychological content as well (Akinsulure-Smith, 2012; Akinsulure-Smith et al, 2009; Smith, 2003), another option for more accurate and nuanced information might be to use multiple formats, including focus groups and individual interviews, to collect data.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While it is not clear what percentage of this population are forced West African migrants, anecdotal reports from service providers in NYC indicate that many are. Furthermore, service providers report that the typical West African forced migrant comes from a country that has experienced long-term conflict; arrives without immediate family, at economic disadvantage, with a history of trauma and a range of physical and mental health conditions; and faces multiple legal and social challenges, such as language barriers, inadequate housing, and limited resources (Akinsulure-Smith, 2012; Akinsulure-Smith, Ghiglione, & Wollmershauser, 2009; Blanch, 2008; Drachman, 1995; Gong-Guy et al, 1991). Together, these factors may increase HIV risk and make service response more complex (personal communication with M. Jou, July 2009).…”

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confidence: 99%

Exploring HIV Knowledge, Risk and Protective Factors Among West African Forced Migrants in New York City

Akinsulure‐Smith

2013

J Immigrant Minority Health

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“…Focus groups and individual interviews possess specific attributes that elicit greater disclosure of information. We chose focus group interviews as the primary method of data collection for this study because a number of researchers and clinicians have documented the significance of group discussion and oral traditions within many African societies (AkinsulureSmith 2012; Akinsulure- Smith et al 2009;Smith 2003), based on the fact that the group modality can elicit shared emotional and psychological information (Rasmussen et al 2012), and based on research suggesting that African cultures are primarily collectivistic (Eaton and Louw 2000;Triandis 1989). Individual interviews were used for sharing more private and sensitive experiences.…”

Section: Methods Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Made in America: Perspectives on Friendship in West African Immigrant Families

et al. 2016

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This qualitative study compared West African immigrant parents' and adolescents' perspectives on parental monitoring of adolescents' peer groups. Parents (n = 31) and adolescent children (n = 25) were interviewed using focus groups and individual interviews, and data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Parents expressed a general concern about external influences on their children, particularly their mistrust of their children's friends. Adolescents reported that they were aware of their parents' fears and described their attempts to manage their parents' concerns while simultaneously maintaining friendships with same-ethnic and other-ethnic peers. This study offers both parent and adolescent perspectives in an effort to better understand adolescents' peer socialization and parental monitoring among West African immigrant families, one of the fastest growing demographic groups in the United States. Recommendations for mental health professions are discussed.

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Healing in the Midst of Chaos: Nah We Yone's African Women's Wellness Group

Cited by 23 publications

References 15 publications

“911” among West African immigrants in New York City: A qualitative study of parents' disciplinary practices and their perceptions of child welfare authorities

“911” among West African immigrants in New York City: A qualitative study of parents' disciplinary practices and their perceptions of child welfare authorities

Exploring HIV Knowledge, Risk and Protective Factors Among West African Forced Migrants in New York City

Made in America: Perspectives on Friendship in West African Immigrant Families

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