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That's Still Your Mama: Southern Upbringing, Cultural Expectation, and Maternal Detachment Among Black Daughters

Title of the Project: That's Still Your Mama: Southern Upbringing, Cultural Expectation, and Maternal Detachment Among Black Daughters

Principal Investigator: Dr. Imani S. Steele

Co-investigator(s): Brittney Scott, LPC & Kaitlin Brown

Key Information about the Research Study

You are invited to participate in a research study. To participate, you must be a descendant of American slaves (e.g., African American), a biological female who uses She/Her/Hers pronouns, at least 25 years old, and detached from your biological mother. Your biological mother must be alive and identify as a descendant of American slaves (e.g., African American). Lastly, you and your mother must have been primarily raised in one of the eleven states that seceded from the Union during the American Civil War (e.g., Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, or Virginia) between the ages of 0-18.

Things you should know:

· The purpose of the study is to understand the lived experiences of adult Southern African American women who are detached from their mothers. If you choose to participate, you will be asked to complete a single virtual interview to discuss your lived experience. This will take approximately 60-90 minutes.

· Risks or discomforts from this research may include emotional distress when discussing sensitive topics related to maternal detachment, as well as privacy concerns. The research team will ensure a supportive environment and allow participants to withdraw or skip questions as needed

· While there may not be immediate benefits, you will contribute to a greater understanding of the challenges faced by Southern African American women, which could inform future improvements in support.

· Taking part in this research project is voluntary. You do not have to participate, and you can stop at any time.

What is the study about, and why is it being done?

The mother-daughter relationship is one of the most important ones a woman will have, partially because of a mother’s impact on her daughter’s emotional, psychological, social, and identity development across the lifespan. Literature focuses on conflicting mother-daughter relationships, which can result in daughters choosing to detach from their mothers. While there is emerging research on African American women who are detached from their mothers, it does not account for the regional differences that shape how a Southern African American woman experiences maternal detachment. Since African American women are not a monolith, it is essential to understand the unique experiences and needs of Southern Black African American women navigating a complex maternal relationship.

What will happen if you take part in this study?

If you agree to be in this study, I will ask you to do the following:

1. Participate in an individual virtual interview designed to understand your experience as a Southern African American woman who is detached from your mother. The interview session will last no more than 90 minutes and will be conducted via a Microsoft Teams session. The session will be audio and video recorded for the purpose of documenting and analyzing the common themes that emerge from the discussions among participants. The recordings will be kept in a secure location and will only be accessed by the research team.

2. Review the interview transcript and summary of the main points to ensure the accuracy and validity of the findings via email. You can let the research team know if everything sounds right or if you would like to add or change anything. This way, we can ensure that your experiences and opinions are truly reflected in our study, and should take no more than 30 minutes.

How could you or others benefit from this study?

The direct benefits participants should expect from participating in this study include contributing to research that can address the unique needs of a Southern African American woman navigating a complex maternal relationship that may impact their emotional, psychological, social, and identity development. Additionally, your lived experience may uncover insights for counseling and ministerial practices that can foster healing, reconciliation, and addressing the root issues that cause the detachment. Overall, your participation helps ensure that these issues receive the attention they deserve.

What risks might you experience from being in this study?

The expected risks from participating in this study are minimal, which means they are equal to the risks you would encounter in everyday life. The risks involved in this study include the possibility of psychological or emotional distress from discussing your lived experience of being detached from your mother. The discussion might consist of you recalling and discussing traumatic events. To reduce risk, the research team will use trauma-informed interview practices which consist of interview preparation, establishing safety, reminding you to set your own boundaries on what you choose to disclose, mood checks, discontinuing the interview if needed, giving you the option to take a break, utilizing grounding techniques if you get overwhelmed, and sharing resources for counseling services.

We are mandated reporters. During this study, if we receive information about child abuse, child neglect, elder abuse, or intent to harm self or others, we will be required to report it to the appropriate authorities.

How will personal information be protected?

The records of this study will be kept private. Published reports will not include any information that will make it possible to identify a subject. Research records will be stored securely, and only the researcher will have access to the records.

· Participant responses will be kept confidential by replacing names with pseudonyms.

· Interviews will be conducted in a location where others will not easily overhear the conversation.

· Data collected from you may be used in future research studies and/or shared with other researchers. If data collected from you is reused or shared, any information that could identify you, if applicable, will be removed beforehand.

· Data will be stored on a password-locked computer. The researcher team will have access to the data. Data will be retained indefinitely.

· Recordings will be stored on a password-locked computer. The researcher and members of her doctoral committee will have access to the recordings. Recordings will be retained indefinitely.

Is study participation voluntary?

Participation in this study is voluntary. Your decision whether to participate will not affect your current or future relations with Liberty University. If you decide to participate, you are free to not answer any question or withdraw at any time without affecting those relationships.

What should you do if you decide to withdraw from the study?

If you choose to withdraw from the study, please exit the screening form and close your internet browser. Your responses will not be recorded or included in the study. If you want to withdraw from the study after completing the screening form, please contact the researcher at the email address/phone number in the next paragraph. Should you withdraw, data collected from you will be destroyed immediately and not included in this study.

Whom do you contact if you have questions or concerns about the study?

The researchers conducting this study are Dr. Imani Steele, Brittney Scott, and Kaitlin Brown. You may ask any questions you have now. If you have questions later, you are encouraged to contact them at isteele@liberty.edu

Whom do you contact if you have questions about your rights as a research participant?

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this study and want to talk to someone other than the researchers, you are encouraged to contact the IRB. Our physical address is Institutional Review Board, 1971 University Blvd., Green Hall Ste. 2845, Lynchburg, VA, 24515; our phone number is 434-592-5530, and our email address is irb@liberty.edu.

Disclaimer: The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is tasked with ensuring that human subjects research will be conducted ethically as defined and required by federal regulations. The topics covered and viewpoints expressed or alluded to by student and faculty researchers are those of the researchers and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of Liberty University.

Your Consent

Before agreeing to be part of the research, please be sure that you understand what the study is about. You will be given a copy of this document for your records/you can print a copy of the document for your records. If you have any questions about the study later, you can contact the study team using the information provided above. If you are chosen to participate in the 60-90 minute interviews, you will be required to sign a consent form.