Abstract
We examined cultural mistrust of mental health professionals among Black males who are transitioning from the foster care system (N = 74) and its relationship to their level of satisfaction with child welfare services and the frequency of negative social contextual experiences. Results of hierarchical regression analysis showed that the level of satisfaction with child welfare services moderated the relationship between negative social contextual experiences and cultural mistrust of mental health professionals. Specifically, more frequent negative social contextual experiences were related to greater cultural mistrust of mental health professionals for Black males reporting low satisfaction with child welfare services, but not for those reporting high satisfaction with child welfare services. Implications for service delivery are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders DSM-IV (4th ed.). Arlington: Author.
Anderson, E. (1990). Streetwise: Race, class, and change in an urban community. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Baker, A. J. L. (2007). Client feedback in child welfare programs: Current trends and future directions. Children and Youth Services Review, 29, 1189–1200.
Barth, R. P., Lloyd, C., Dickinson, N., & Chapman, M. V. (2008). Characteristics and job satisfaction of child welfare workers: A national study. Social Work, 53, 199–209.
Cunningham, M., & Spencer, M. B. (1996). The Black male experiences measure. In R. L. Jones (Ed.), Handbook of tests and measurements for Black populations. Hampton: Cobb & Henry Publishers.
dosReis, S., Zito, J. M., Safer, D. J., & Soeken, K. L. (2001). Mental health services for youths in foster care and disabled youths. American Journal of Public Health, 91, 1094–1099.
Duncan, L. E. (2003). Black male college students’ attitudes toward seeking psychological help. Journal of Black Psychology, 29, 68–86.
Franklin, A. J. (1992). Therapy with African American men. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 73, 350–355.
Frazier, P. A., Tix, A. P., & Barron, K. E. (2004). Testing moderator and mediator effects in counseling psychology research. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 51, 115–134.
Grier, W. H., & Cobbs, P. M. (1968). Black rage. New York: Basic Books.
Gunnings, T. S., & Lipscomb, W. D. (1986). Psychotherapy for Black men: A systemic approach. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 14, 17–24.
Hazen, A. L., Hough, R. L., Landsverk, J. A., & Wood, P. A. (2004). Use of mental health services by youths in public sectors of care. Mental Health Services Research, 6, 213–226.
Hobbs, S. R. (1985). Issues in psychotherapy with Black male adolescents in the inner city: A Black clinician’s perspective. Journal of Non-White Concerns in Personnel and Guidance, 13, 79–87.
Hoberman, H. M. (1992). Ethnic minority status and adolescent mental health services utilization. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 19, 246–267.
Jackson-Gilfort, A., Liddle, H. A., Tejeda, M. J., & Dakof, G. A. (2001). Facilitating engagement of African American male adolescents in family therapy: A cultural theme process study. Journal of Black Psychology, 27, 321–340.
Lee, B. R., Munson, M. R., Ware, N. C., Ollie, M. T., Scott, L. D., Jr., & McMillen, J. C. (2006). Experiences of and attitudes toward mental health services among older youths in foster care. Psychiatric Services, 57, 487–492.
McCoy, H., McMillen, J. C., & Spitznagel, E. L. (2008). Older youth leaving the foster care system: Who, what, when, where, and why? Children and Youth Services Review, 30, 735–745.
McMillen, J. C., Scott, L. D., Zima, B. T., Ollie, M. T., Munson, M. R., & Spitznagel, E. (2004). Use of mental health services among older youths in foster care. Psychiatric Services, 52, 189–195.
Peterson, B. D., West, J., Tanielian, T. L., Pincus, H. A., Kohout, J., Pion, G. M., et al. (1998). Mental health practitioners and trainees. In R. W. Manderscheid & M. J. Henderson (Eds.), Mental health, United States, 1998. Rockville: Center for Mental Health Services.
Rasheed, J. M., & Rasheed, M. N. (1999). Social work practice with African American men: The invisible presence. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Reid, P. N., & Gundlach, J. H. (1983). A scale for the measurement of consumer satisfaction with social services. Journal of Social Service Research, 7, 37–54.
Ridley, C. R. (1984). Clinical treatment of the nondisclosing Black client: A therapeutic paradox. American Psychologist, 39, 1234–1244.
Ridley, C. R. (1989). Racism in counseling as an adversive behavioral process. In P. B. Pedersen, J. G. Draguns, W. J. Lonner, & J. E. Trimble (Eds.), Counseling across cultures (3rd ed., pp. 55–77). Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
Scott, L. D., Jr., & Davis, L. E. (2006). Young, black, and male in foster care: Relationship of negative social contextual experiences to factors relevant to mental health service delivery. Journal of Adolescence, 29(5), 721–736.
Stevenson, H. C., Jr., Davis, G. Y., Herrero-Taylor, T., & Morris, R. (2003). Boys, not men: Hypervulnerability in African American youth. In H. C. Stevenson Jr (Ed.), Playing with anger: Teaching coping skills to African American boys through athletics and culture (pp. 3–20). Westport: Praeger.
Terrell, F., Taylor, J., Menzise, J., & Barrett, R. K. (2009). Cultural mistrust: A core component of African American consciousness. In H. A. Neville, B. M. Tynes, & S. O. Utsey (Eds.), Handbook of African American psychology (pp. 209–309). Los Angeles: Sage.
Terrell, F., & Terrell, S. (1981). An inventory to measure cultural mistrust among Blacks. The Western Journal of Black Studies, 5, 180–185.
USDHHS. (2001). Mental health: Culture, race, and ethnicity—A supplement to mental health: A report of the Surgeon General. Rockville: US Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services.
Warfield, J. L., & Marion, R. L. (1985). Counseling the Black male. Journal of Non-White Concerns, 13, 54–71.
Whaley, A. L. (2001). Cultural mistrust and mental health services for African Americans: A review and meta-analysis. The Counseling Psychologist, 29, 513–531.
Whaley, A. L. (2002). Psychometric analysis of the cultural mistrust inventory with a Black psychiatric inpatient sample. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58, 383–396.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (5R03MH067124-02). We appreciate the comments and recommendations of anonymous reviewers. Points of view, interpretations, or opinions in this paper do not represent the views, opinions, or policies of NIMH. We are grateful to the young men who participated in this research project.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Scott, L.D., McCoy, H., Munson, M.R. et al. Cultural Mistrust of Mental Health Professionals Among Black Males Transitioning from Foster Care. J Child Fam Stud 20, 605–613 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-010-9434-z
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-010-9434-z