Non-Religious Discrimination: Perceived Support, Social Connectedness, and Microaggressions against Non-Religious African Americans

Current literature has been exploring the lived experiences of non-religious Americans and how they are facing psychological distress due to how they are treated in America by their religious counterparts. The African American non-religious population is rapidly expanding but much of the non-religious literature is focused on the experiences of White non-religious individuals, leaving non-religious African Americans’ experiences unexplored. It is possible that non-religious African Americans experience non-religious discrimination, non-religious microaggressions, and psychological distress. In addition, researchers have examined the role of ethnic connectedness and perceived social support in buffering the psychological distress when experiencing microaggression and discrimination. The purpose of the study was to examine the relation between non-religious microaggression and psychological distress among non-religious African Americans and to determine if social connectedness and perceived social support moderate this relation. In this study of 449 self-identified non-religious African Americans, I hypothesized that ethnic connectedness and perceived social support would moderate the relation amongst non-religious discrimination, non-religious microaggressions, and psychological distress. The results indicated that non-religious microaggressions were positively associated with psychological distress. In addition, ethnic connectedness and perceived support were associated with less psychological distress; however, only ethnic connectedness was identified as a moderator between non-religious microaggressions and psychological distress. The results did not support the role of perceived support as a moderator.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Counseling Psychology (UMKC)

Grantor

University of Missouri--Kansas City

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Caldwell, Kaylor Keri

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Berkel, LaVerne A.

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10355/96230

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/96230