Date of Graduation

Summer 8-31-2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Program

Clinical Psychology (PsyD)

First Advisor

Michelle Montagno

Second Advisor

Alicia D. Bonaparte

Third Advisor

Dhara Meghani

Abstract

This dissertation explored the potential effects of intersections of oppression (i.e., anti-Black racism, diabetes discrimination, and sexism) on mental health and pregnancy experiences among Black women and birthing people with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Previous studies about pregnancy and T1D have included mainly white, cisgender women. Three participants qualified for inclusion in the present study and participated in semi-structured interviews, which the researcher analyzed using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) framework. Participants described feeling uncertain about whether aspects of their pregnancy experiences were related to obstetric and/or medical racism. Similarly, participants sometimes seemed uncertain about how racism may affect their ability to access online social support from other people with T1D, and they noted that they often felt online environments were unkind and predominately white. Participants identified instances of diabetes discrimination throughout their pregnancy experiences and voiced the need for ongoing exploration of how diabetes discrimination affects Black birthing people with T1D in medical settings. In particular, participants identified the need for more racial and T1D representation in research, medical resources, and online spaces. Participants cited their hopes to build representation of Black women with T1D as their primary reason for participating in the present study.

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