Date

1-14-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Ralph Ogburn

Keywords

Implicit racial bias, racial bias, mindfulness, motivation, mental health clinician, marginalized, self-determination theory, convergent parallel mixed methods, basic psychological needs theory

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

Racial bias is linked to poor mental health outcomes and obstructs clinician-client relationships. Mental health clinicians (MHCs) may express implicit bias, expanding disparities for people of color. Mindfulness and motivation to respond without prejudice (MRP) are associated with reduced racial bias, yet few studies have examined these constructs among MHCs. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to evaluate relationships between mindfulness, MRP, and implicit racial bias. Licensed MHCs (n = 47, 85.1% female, 59.6% African American, mean age 50 years) participated in a convergent parallel mixed-methods study involving an online survey [Race Implicit Association Test (Race IAT), the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Internal and External MRP Scales (IMS and EMS)], and semi-structured interviews (n = 13) using a phenomenological design. Multiple regression and moderation analyses (SPSS v. 28) revealed no association between Race IAT scores and FFMQ (95% CI: -.03, .02, p = .78), IMS (95% CI: -.03, .03, p = .99), or EMS (95% CI: -.02, .01, p = .89) scores. Thematic analysis (MAXQDA v. 24) uncovered awareness of mindfulness and racial bias, as well as limited opportunities for bias-related training. A small sample size and inadequate statistical power may have influenced study outcomes. These findings show how MHCs manage their clinical experiences and may benefit others in psychological research and the mental health field.

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