Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
School of Social Work
Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
Depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health problems for emerging adults of color in higher education. Specifically, African American/Black and Hispanic/Latinx emerging adults on college campuses have poorer mental health than their White counterparts. Considering the systemic oppression and cultural stressors that impact mental health among African American/Black and Hispanic/Latinx students, Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Emerging Adulthood Theory were theoretical frameworks for this study. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Hip Hop music and depression, anxiety, and intentional use as self-care among African American/Black and Hispanic/Latinx emerging adults who were college students. The study used a cross-sectional design to explore whether the role of Hip Hop music, listening frequency and settings, and intentional use of Hip Hop music was associated with depression and anxiety. The study used race/ethnicity, age, and gender as control variables. The sample size was generated from the “Me and My Music Project” (2018) study, which explored empowerment and risky elements of listening to and interacting with music. This study analyzed the secondary data of a convenience sample collected from a large ‘Historically Serving Institution’ (HSI). The original sample included 378 emerging adults ages 18-29, while the current study sample examined the perspectives of 167 emerging adults ages of 18-19. An ANCOVA analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship between the setting while listening to Hip Hop music and depression compared to other kinds of music, a statistically significant relationship between setting while listening to Hip Hop music and anxiety and intentional use of Hip Hop music to decrease negative emotions was a predictive factor for depression and anxiety symptoms. The findings support the use of Hip Hop-based interventions as culturally relevant interventions with college-aged, emerging adults of color who suffer from anxiety and depression.
Date
4-3-2025
Recommended Citation
Wiley, Richard W. Jr., "“THEY LOVE OUR RHYTHM, BUT NOT OUR BLUES:” AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIP HOP ON DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND SELF-CARE AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC/LATINX EMERGING ADULTS" (2025). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 6760.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/6760
Committee Chair
Dr. Cassandra Chaney
DOI
10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.6760