Date of Conferral
8-28-2026
Date of Award
August 2026
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Psychology
Advisor
Sandra Rasmussen
Abstract
Black adult males in resource-scarce Ohio Valley communities have historically experienced trauma that disrupted their well-being. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study, grounded in developmental trauma disorder (DTD) theory, was to explore how Black adult males understood and sustained well-being while living with DTD in resource-scarce environments. The participants comprised six Black adult males who resided in Ohio Valley communities and experienced trauma during childhood and adulthood. Data were collected through confidential, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Five themes emerged: healing through connection and role-modeling, historical and systemic trauma as a daily barrier, navigating distrust in support systems, redefining well-being beyond survival, and resistance through meaning-making. Findings revealed resilience, coping strategies, and identity formation amid adversity. The results of this study may contribute to positive social change by informing culturally responsive, community-based trauma interventions that promote well-being among Black men in underserved regions.
Recommended Citation
Hobbs, Devron Demont, "Navigating Trauma and Scarcity: A Phenomenological Inquiry into Well-Being Among Black Adult Males in Ohio Valley" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 20486.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/20486
