A mixed methods study of Black/African American counselor wellness

Abstract

Using a mixed methods sequential explanatory design, the researchers investigated coping and wellness in a purposive, snowball sample of Black/African American counselors (n = 86). A simple linear regression measured the relationship between Africultural coping and wellness followed by an interpretative phenomenological analysis of focus group data. While Africultural coping was not a significant predictor of wellness, there was a statistically significant gender difference in Africultural coping with a small effect size. Gendered focus groups of men (n = 3) and women (n = 7) created from within the survey sample resulted in five themes addressing: (a) distinctive stressors, (b) coping, (c) having to do it all, (d) wellness as important, and (e) the role of connection. Implications and recommendations for the counseling profession are provided.