Introduction
The given analysis will primarily focus on McClain et al.’s (2016) article titled “An Examination of the Impact of Racial and Ethnic Identity, Impostor Feelings, and Minority Status Stress on the Mental Health of Black College Students.” The main theme of the text is to understand the role and influence of impostor feelings, minority status stressors, racial centrality, and ethnic identity on African American college students. Thesis: The discussion will mainly focus on how ethnic identity positively predicts the mental health of Black students, whereas imposter feelings and minority stress status affect them adversely.
Summary
In order to comprehensively summarize the article, it is useful to outline the key ideas addressing the questions, such as who, what, where, why, and how. Firstly, it should be noted that McClain et al. (2016) were primarily concerned with African American college students. Secondly, the subject of interest was the mental health of the group as well as its relationship with minority status stress, impostor feelings, as well as racial and ethnic identity (McClain et al., 2016). Thirdly, the setting and location included colleges and universities in the United States. Fourthly, the reason why the research was conducted is to provide an in-depth understanding of mental health intricacies and challenges faced by minority students to derive plausible and practical recommendations (McClain et al., 2016). Fifthly, the approach is focused on analyzing the outlined elements with respect to mental health factors to create culturally sensitive and aware counseling and support for minority individuals.
Analysis
In general, the article provides a highly comprehensive and well-researched piece of evidence on the subject matter. The findings indicate that “ethnic identity was found to be a significant positive predictor of mental health, whereas minority status stress and impostor feelings were significant negative predictors” (McClain et al., 2016, p. 101). For example, one student claimed: “I have spent time trying to find out more about my ethnic group, such as its history, traditions, and customs” (McClain et al., 2016, p. 112). In other words, cultural learning and self-reflection positively and protectively improve mental health.
The key strength of the article is that researchers not only analyze a breadth of factors but accurately assess the significance of each in relation to the other as well. The key limitation of the article is that it solely focuses on Black college students, which is too narrow to generalize for all African Americans and minority groups. I agree that racial identity is protective for young students and women because another peer-reviewed research found that “racial centrality and private regard, and a sense of belonging served as protective factors” (Butler-Barnes et al., 2018, p. 552). However, I do not agree that similar observations can be made for African American men since “job security … was found to be associated with fewer depressive symptoms in African American men than in Caucasians or Hispanic communities” (Bailey et al., 2019, p. 605). Therefore, viewing each individual through intersectionality is critical when providing counseling and support (Whitbourne, 2019). In other words, the African American community is heterogeneous and diverse in ethnicity, gender experience, and other elements.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the analysis of McClain et al.’s (2016) article highlights the importance of understanding the impact of impostor feelings, minority status stress, and racial and ethnic identity on the mental health of Black college students. The strengths of the article lie in its comprehensive analysis. Its limitation is its narrow focus on Black college students, and future research should consider intersectionality when providing counseling and support.
References
Bailey, R. K., Mokonogho, J., & Kumar, A. (2019). Racial and ethnic differences in depression: Current perspectives. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 15, 603-609. Web.
Butler-Barnes, S. T., Leath, S., Williams, A., Byrd, C., Carter, R., & Chavous, T. M. (2018). Promoting resilience among African American girls: Racial identity as a protective factor. Child Development, 89(6), 552-571. Web.
McClain, S., Beasley, S. T., Jones, B., Awosogba, O., Jackson, S., & Cokley, K. (2016). An Examination of the impact of racial and ethnic identity, impostor feelings, and minority status stress on the mental health of Black college students. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 44(2), 101-117. Web.
Whitbourne, S. K. (2019). Abnormal psychology: Clinical perspectives on psychological disorders (9th ed.). McGraw-Hill.