Date of Conferral

7-7-2026

Date of Award

July 2026

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Health Sciences

Advisor

Patrick Dunn

Abstract

Alcohol use disorder among African American older adults (aged ≥65) remains an underrecognized contributor to preventable morbidity and diminished quality of life. Although previous research has identified individual risk factors for alcohol misuse, little is known about how social determinants of health shape alcohol use among this population. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore how family support, experiences of racial discrimination, religious engagement, and economic stability influence late-life alcohol use. Cultural Resilience Theory guided the exploration of how cultural resources and structural stressors influence alcohol use. Five African American adults aged 65 years and older were purposively recruited from urban community settings and participated in semistructured interviews lasting 60 to 90 minutes. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step phenomenological method. Six themes emerged: (a) family support as a protective factor, (b) religious engagement as a source of resilience, (c) economic hardship as a contributor to stress-related alcohol use, (d) racial discrimination, (e) neighborhood alcohol availability, and (f) barriers to treatment and support services. Family support and religious engagement fostered resilience, healthier coping, and reduced alcohol use among older African American adults. In contrast, racial discrimination, financial strain, neighborhood alcohol environments, and limited treatment access increased alcohol use and treatment barriers. Findings supported culturally responsive interventions. This study may contribute to positive social change by informing equitable policies that improve access to treatment, reduce barriers to care, and promote healthy aging among older African American adults.

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