title: Uses of ministerial support by African Americans: a focus group study.
abstract: This focus group study examines the use of ministerial support among African American adults with regard to (1) the issues taken to ministers by church members, (2) the issues not taken to ministers by church members, and (3) the factors that inform people's decisions about whether or not to seek ministerial support. Content analysis of narratives from 13 focus groups revealed significant overlap in the range of concerns for which people seek support and those issues for which they will not seek ministerial help. The factors that influence peoples' decisions included shame as well as evaluations of minister character, sincerity, and skill set. Narrative examples are used to elucidate each theme, and the implications of the findings for theory, research, and practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Psychology, School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, New York, NY, USA. jsm2015@nyu.edu
authors.forename: Jacqueline S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Mattis
authors.forename: N'jeri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Alix
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.forename: Nyasha A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Grayman
authors.forename: Robert Joseph
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Linda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Chatters
authors.forename: Harold W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Neighbors
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D010327:Pastoral Care; D011340:Problem Solving; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012944:Social Support; D001741:Black or African American