“I didn't know who to talk to”: Black college men’s sources and descriptions of social support.

Abstract

Young Black men face unique interpersonal challenges throughout their time on college campuses, as they are forced to navigate anticipated developmental stressors (e.g., academic adjustment), coupled with racespecific microaggressions and structural forms of harm. Still, members of this group remain underrepresented in higher education, and their lived experiences have been neglected within existing men's studies research. Therefore, carefully examining Black college men's forms of social support is necessary when working to identify specific factors that either impede or promote their academic success and psychological wellbeing. Two research questions guided this analysis: (a) from whom do Black college men receive social support? and (b) for what circumstances or events do Black college men describe receiving or needing support? Interviews were conducted with 27 Black men enrolled at a large public Predominately White Institution (PWI) in the United States. Applied thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Study findings reveal that Black college men rely upon their peers, campus student groups, fraternities, and family members for social support. In a departure from existing research, participants also described the importance of women in their lives and showed great appreciation for the support provided by their mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and female friends. Additionally, participants also described receiving support from others when faced with challenging circumstances like adjusting to college, encountering discrimination, working through conflict with family, and experiencing depression. Study findings offer new insights by highlighting both the circumstances and specific people young Black men turn to when they are in need. Public Significance StatementYoung Black men receive support from various sources when faced with challenges throughout their time in college. However, findings from this study offer additional insight into the specific people and circumstances that drive young Black men seek social support-which will ultimately aid researchers, faculty, staff, and administrators in designing culturally tailored programs meant to improve academic and mental health outcomes for Black college men.

Help seeking and African American college-aged men: An integrated literature review through somebodiness.

“…AAMCS have access to mental health services on college campuses, however, that does not always mean greater counseling use. Goodwill et al (2022) found that many Black male freshmen college students did not know who to turn to when experiencing emotional equilibrium, adjustment to college issues, and challenges to masculinity. This is also corroborated by further research in which college-aged men tend to have lower AMHI in comparison to women on campuses (DeBate et al, 2018; Stansbury et al, 2011).…”

Black men need friends: Social support moderates the connection between gendered racism and psychological distress.

“…Social support systems are protective across all populations, but they may be of particular importance to Black men, because they may influence aspects of racial identity, such as private and public regard (Garrett-Walker & Longmire-Avital, 2018; Goodwill et al, 2022). A recent longitudinal study found that Black college students ( n = 171) who had higher levels of private regard at baseline had lower levels of psychological distress 3 years later (Willis & Neblett, 2020).…”

We Wear the Mask: The Lived Experiences of Black Undergraduate Music Education Students in Predominantly White Schools of Music

“…Much has been written about the experiences of Black students at predominantly White institutions (Billingsley & Hurd, 2019; Goodwill et al, 2022; Griffith et al, 2019). Black students in predominantly White institutions (PWIs) are more likely to encounter race-related stressors than those attending historically Black institutions (Greer & Chwalisz, 2007).…”