Abstract
African American men face unique mental health challenges due to the pervasive impact of racism, including the chronic stress and psychological toll of Racial Battle Fatigue (RBF). Racial battle fatigue refers to the cumulative effects of exposure to systemic racism, leading to psychological, emotional, and physiological exhaustion. Addressing RBF is critical for improving the mental health and well-being of African American men. Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), an evidence-based intervention offers a promising approach for mitigating the effects of RBF. MSC emphasizes mindfulness, self-kindness, and common humanity, providing individuals with tools to cultivate emotional resilience and self-compassion in the face of adversity. However, there is a notable gap in research focused on applying MSC to the deleterious impact of racism on African American men. This paper proposes an expanded framework for using MSC to address the specific challenges posed by RBF. The study concludes with practical recommendations for clinicians on how to adapt MSC to better serve African American men exposed to racial battle fatigue.
Presenters
Jocelyn MarkowiczStudent, Ph.D. Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, United States Bill Johnson
Staff Psychologist, Counseling Center, University of Illinois Chicago, Illinois, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
The Value of Culture and the Demand of Change
KEYWORDS
Mindful Self-Compassion, Anti-Racism, Black Men, Mental Health, Intersecting Identities
