Date
5-20-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision (PhD)
Chair
Joy M. Mwendwa
Keywords
African American caregiver, familism, Afrocentric perspective, communism, family systems, multigenerational, photovoice
Disciplines
Counseling
Recommended Citation
Lee, Margaret J., "A Transcendental Phenomenological Study of African American Adults Who Self-Identify as Christians Serving As Caregivers for Their Parents or Family in the Southeastern United States" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8556.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8556
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative, transcendental-phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of African American adult children who self-identify as Christians and serve as caregivers for their parents or family members in the southeastern United States. Despite the prevalence of caregiving within African American families, research typically does not capture the unique cultural and spiritual contexts that shape these experiences. The theories guiding this study are Bowen's family systems theory (Bowen, 1978) and the Afrocentric Perspective. These theories examine family dynamics and cultural expectations. This study sought to understand how faith, cultural values, and familial dynamics shape caregivers' experiences, challenges, and coping methods. The use of photovoice, combined with semi-structured interviews, allowed seven participants to visually and narratively express their caregiving experiences. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews. Purposeful and snowballing sampling was employed. Data analysis implemented phenomenological reduction to reveal the essence of caregiving in this population. The following themes and subthemes emerged: the journey; culture (family and faith); the struggle (day-to-day, beyond day-to-day, and challenges); caregivers' strain (physical and emotional strain, family dynamics); coping & self-care; sacred reward (shaping, reward, reflective learning). The findings revealed, despite the emotional and physical challenges, the caregiver's ingrained culture and faith make caregiving both priceless and ongoing. The study contributes to culturally responsive counseling by focusing on the often-marginalized perspectives of African American caregivers and highlighting their strengths, struggles, and lived realities.
