Black Men’s Wellness

• In Event: Conceptualizing Black Consciousness Within Motivation Research

Abstract

Many instances of wellness-related challenges, such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and suicidality, have harmfully impacted students’ undergraduate experiences (Siegel et al., 2022; Oswalt et al., 2020), with Students of Color being at heightened risk (Busby et al., 2021). In fall 2020, students from racially or ethnically minoritized groups represented 46% of undergraduate students at 4-year public institutions (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022). While studies addressing college student mental health and wellbeing have given insight to familiar challenges faced by college students overall (American College Health Association, 2008; Blanco et al., 2008), specific challenges of Black students, particularly Black men, attending predominantly White institutions (PWIs) have yet to be explored in a meaningful way in the counseling and higher education literature. Understanding the wellness needs of these students is essential to supporting and advancing wellness equity among college students (Lipson et al., 2022, p. 139).
Mental health and wellness-related research traditionally focuses on the experiences of undergraduate college students as a general population; however, over the years research highlighting the experiences of specific populations of students, particularly Students of Color attending PWIs, has become critical. With an ever-increasing number of Black men enrolling at PWIs, the need to better understand their wellbeing, along with ways to positively influence it, has become more evident. Black men attending PWIs have stated many aspects of their college experiences that have harmfully impacted their mental health and wellness while attending college. Research frequently highlights the need for services addressing mental health and wellness support for Black men while attending college (Goodwill et al., 2022). However, research documenting Black men’s perspectives, definitions, and motivations for wellness is lacking.
As such, this paper discloses the results of a consensual qualitative research study exploring the lived experiences of 12 Black college men at a PWI. The research questions of the study were “How do Black college men at predominantly White institutions define wellness?”, “How does the sociocultural context of a predominantly White institution influence Black college men’s wellness?” and “In what ways does participation in Black Male Initiative programs influence Black men’s wellness?” Uplifting the essence of Black X Consciousness (Author, 2019) through emphasizing Black men’s abilities to integrate Blackness in wellbeing, this paper specifically amplifies participants' responses to the first research question: “How do Black college men at predominantly White institutions define wellness?” All members of the sample defined wellness as balance, using subthemes of breathing, becoming, and being to better explain Black men’s relationship to and understanding of wellness as a concept and life-long goal.
This paper explores wellness theory and research as it relates to Black men’s collegiate experience and concludes with implications and recommendations for future practice and research on Black men’s health and wellness. Educators and mental health practitioners may find the study findings useful, as they work to advocate for Black men’s holistic development and wellbeing in educational contexts and seek to better understand human behavior and motivation.

Author

• Felix Morton, Capella University