Sponsor
Portland State University. Social Work and Social Research Ph. D. Program
First Advisor
Gita Mehrotra
Term of Graduation
Winter 2023
Date of Publication
2-24-2023
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Social Work and Social Research
Department
Social Work
Language
English
Subjects
Cognition disorders in old age, Memory in old age, African Americans -- Psychology, Social structure -- United States
DOI
10.15760/etd.8169
Physical Description
1 online resource (ix, 187 pages)
Abstract
With the variety of research about dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD), few studies have explored the effect of social structures, such as racism, on how Black/African Americans conceptualize memory loss, dementia, or AD. Furthermore, limited within the scholarship are the environmental factors and structural racism that are thought to influence cognitive impairments and meaning making about cognitive decline impacting Black/African Americans.
Most U.S. research centers on methodologies and epistemologies grounded in Eurocentric ways of knowing (objectivity, individuality, either/or logic). However, Eurocentric methodologies fail to acknowledge the cultural experiences with memory loss, cognitive impairment, dementia, and AD, as well as the influence of racist structures and cultural perspectives, specifically Black/African American ways of understanding (affect symbolic imagery, communal, diunital logic). When researching Black/African Americans, the methodology needs to incorporate cultural nuances to accurately reflect the responses of the research participants.
This dissertation explored the utility of the Africana worldview (paradigm) by exploring the process Black/African American Americans use to define memory loss and how structural racism may influence their definition and meaning making about memory loss. The Africana worldview was used to explore the following research questions: (a) What is the role of cultural meaning making in understanding memory loss and dementia among Black/African Americans? (b) What are the different ways the Africana Worldview aids in the interpretation of Black/African Americans' understanding of memory loss, dementia, and AD?
Findings from this research focus on the importance of maintaining belonging, cultural meaning making, and the impacts of structural racism on the lived experiences of people living with cognitive decline and their caregivers. Implications for social work education, practice, and future research are also discussed.
Rights
© 2023 Andre Pruitt
In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/39686
Recommended Citation
Pruitt, Andre, "Does Structural Racism Influence How Black/African Americans Define Memory Loss and Cognitive Impairment? An Africana Phenomenological Study" (2023). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 6315.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.8169