P-26 Mothering as a social determinant of mental health: Cultural dynamics and insights from professional Black West Indian women in the British Virgin Islands
Author(s):
S Blount
Year of Presentation:
2024
Objective : this study investigates how cultural dynamics associated with West Indian mothering influence the psychological well-being of Professional Black West Indian Woman (PBWIW) in the British Virgin Islands.
Methods: Employing a phenomenological qualitative research design, this study utilized focus groups to collect data from a sample (N=21) of PBWIW. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis and Discursive Psychology Discourse analysis informed the data collection and analysis to explore how participants interpreted and internalized maternal desires and the influence on psychological wellbeing.
Results: Participants emphasized the transmission of maternal desires as protective and risk factors toward psychological wellbeing. Maternal desires transmitted as obligations were experienced as risk factors, whereas desires transmitted as expectations were experienced as protective factors. These findings suggest a significant influence of mothering on the psychological well-being of Professional Black West Indian Women (PBWIW) in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).
Conclusion: The findings of this study support an adaption of existing mental health service delievery frameworks relationships as social determinants influencing mental health and wellbeing at the community level. Mental Health