Date of Conferral

10-26-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Dr. Susana Verdinelli

Abstract

Older Black women living in public housing have been identified as a high-risk group for experiencing barriers to and underutilization of mental health services. Accessing and utilizing mental health care in public housing complexes is challenging due to persistent barriers that discourage residents from seeking treatment. The older adult population, particularly Black women, remains inadequately served and experiences some of the poorest health outcomes, in part because of underreporting of health concerns and limited treatment-seeking behaviors. The purpose of this study was to explore older Black women’s experiences of accessing mental health care while living in public housing and to understand their perceptions of the challenges and barriers to care and service use. A sociocultural conceptual model for treatment engagement served as the conceptual framework for this study. Ten Black women aged 55 and older who had lived in public housing for at least six months participated in semistructured interviews. Findings revealed that access to mental health care among older Black women in public housing was marked by limited support, inadequate infrastructure, and social isolation. Participants described navigating fragmented care systems without guidance, often relying on family, primary physicians, or faith instead of structured programs or community resources. The results highlight how systemic neglect, environmental insecurity, and racialized experiences intersect to create major barriers to mental health treatment for these women. Results of this study have the potential to be used for positive social change in raising awareness, creating interventions, and facilitating the development of prevention programs for this specific group.

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