Date of Conferral

7-7-2026

Date of Award

July 2026

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Health Sciences

Advisor

Claudia Kozinetz

Abstract

African American women (AAW) experience disproportionately high rates of obesity and chronic disease compared to all other demographic groups in the United States. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of AAW aged 36–64 residing in Nashville, Tennessee, regarding food, weight management, and chronic disease management. The social-ecological model (SEM) served as the theoretical framework, providing a multilevel lens through which individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and societal factors are examined. Three research questions guided the inquiry, examining individual-level experiences, parental and caregivers’ influences, and community and societal-level factors shaping participants’ relationship with food, weight management, and chronic disease management. Data were collected through 16 individual semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a systematic qualitative process. Six themes emerged from the data: intergenerational silence on food and health; food as cultural identity and love; functional definitions of health; structural barriers to healthy eating; healthcare provider cultural competence; and body image and self-esteem. Findings suggest that effective health interventions for this population must honor cultural food traditions, address structural barriers at multiple ecological levels, and center the voices and lived experiences of AAW in health program and policy design. Implications for positive social change include culturally grounded, multilevel public health interventions for AAW in Nashville and beyond, with relevance for communities and policymakers committed to advancing health equity.

Download

Share

 
COinS