Date
8-20-2026
Department
School of Communication and the Arts
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)
Chair
Erin Black
Keywords
Black males, communication, mental health, SMCT
Disciplines
Communication
Recommended Citation
Brown, Kendall, "Navigating Mental Health Stigma and Disclosure Among Black Males on Social Media: A Qualitative Study Guided by Stigma Management Communication Theory" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8797.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8797
Abstract
Mental health stigma in the Black male community is a significant topic worth further investigation within the field of communication. Few current studies go into depth on the subject of mental health stigma, with the aim of understanding how communication is impacted by stigma. This work fills that gap. This qualitative research study sought to explicate the varied strategies employed by Black males when navigating disclosure in social media spaces. Stigma management communication theory is the guiding theory used to illuminate the communication choices made by Black males that shape their experiences. Factors such as racism, historical medical maltreatment, and social discrimination affect how Black males approach and manage mental health disclosure. The findings in this research study reveal how Black males interpret mental health stigma and apply that understanding to their communication behavior.
