Abstract
This study addresses the question of whether there is an association between tracing family roots and indicators of psychological well-being among African Americans, specifically self-esteem, mastery, and feelings of hopelessness. Data from a nationally representative sample of African Americans was used for this analysis. The findings of the bivariate regression models showed that having traced one’s family roots (i.e., personally or a family member of the respondent) was associated with significantly higher levels of mastery and self-esteem and reduced feelings of hopelessness. The relationships between tracing one’s family roots, self-esteem, and feelings of hopelessness remained after adjusting for relevant socio-demographic, health, and psychosocial factors. Study limitations and directions for future research are discussed.
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The data used for this study are publicly available online.
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Nicholson, H.L. “Exploring Your Family Roots”: The Association Between Tracing Family Roots and Psychological Well-Being among African Americans. J Afr Am St 27, 349–358 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-023-09635-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-023-09635-4