Date of Submission
2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Department
Psychology
Department Chair
Stephanie Felgoise, PhD, ABPP
First Advisor
Leslie M. Fernandez, Psy.D
Second Advisor
Susan M. Panichelli Mindel, PhD
Third Advisor
Jason Coleman, Psy.D
Abstract
Parental stress can be defined as the perceptions and feelings that are experienced in a parental role because the demands that are related to the role are unable to be fulfilled with the resources that are available (Abidin, 1992). Research suggests that African American women may experience more parental stress than their Caucasian counterparts due to various factors (Coll & Pachter, 2002). However, there is not sufficient evidence to support this notion as the majority of research available on parenting stress is comprised of middle-class Caucasian women (Coll & Pachter, 2002; Nomaguchi & House, 2013). The purpose of this study was to explore the demands that contribute to the perceptions and feelings associated with parental stress in African American mothers raising African American sons in comparison to Caucasian mothers raising Caucasian sons between the ages of 8 and 18 years old. This descriptive qualitative study identified, explored, and discussed the different demands that may contribute to parental stress in this population of participants. Findings indicated that there are indeed differences regarding the type of demands that contribute to parental stress for African American mothers and Caucasian mothers.
Recommended Citation
Mombrun, Angena, "The Invisible Load of Motherhood: Exploring Parental Stress Differences among Caucasian and African American Mothers" (2024). PCOM Psychology Dissertations. 637.
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/psychology_dissertations/637