Communication ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-15-2021

Abstract

Within the expansive literature on diabetes in other disciplines, the communication lens focuses on the biomedical perspective and emphasizes doctor-patient and patient-provider relations. While there are limited studies that focus on the psychosocial aspect of diabetes morbidity, there is a gap in the existing literature across disciplines on communication about diabetes using both qualitative and participatory methods that are church-based. Because diabetes disproportionately and adversely impacts communities of color that report high levels of religious influence, there is an dire need for more effective interventions to ameliorate this chronic illness that causes high levels of morbidity and mortality.

The Sisters Supporting Sisters study acknowledges the knowledge gaps of the biomedical perspective that are both clinically centric and health system oriented and expresses the importance of honoring cultural traditions. It explores knowledge and critical dialogue from church-based women of color living with diabetes – how they define and make meaning; reflect and voice individual and collective concerns; capture cultural strengths; and advocate for social change around this chronic disease. Informed by a theoretical framework to include social determinism, social-ecological, and critical theories, co-researchers of this study sought to explicate knowledge mediated through intersubjective relationships generated by collective language, social environments, culture, and social practices around the phenomenon of diabetes. In a seven-week research endeavor, thirteen co-researchers utilized photovoice and focus groups as a participatory approach to conceptualize and analyze this phenomenon from an insider perspective.

This study found several themes relevant to everyday life, power and agency, identity, and mental health of church-based women of color living with diabetes. Everyday experiences/shared values that were conveyed included warfare metaphors and issues regarding diabetes management, challenges of COVID-19, and spiritual and family life. Dialogues about power and agency revealed concerns about strength and power, choices and decision, support from family, church, and medical professionals. Co-researchers also discussed barriers to care and constructed suggestions for medical professionals to improve fear appeals and superfluous language. Discussion on personal identity revealed reflections on culture, confidence and detachment. Group identity was conveyed through discussions of social roles and the effect of diabetes on relationships. Also discussed was the adverse impact of mental health comorbid with diabetes to include denial, depression, and stigma and shame.

The Sisters Supporting Sisters study grounds language as context for shared experiential knowledge and legitimizes participation in collaborative inquiry. It validates the Black Church as efficacious source of health interventions to people of color and photovoice – a form of Participatory Action Research – and focus groups as opportunities to understand and learn from lived experiences of people experiencing diabetes that are not captured in traditional research. Using the lens of participatory action research, the study’s scholar-activist’s collaboration with co-researchers results in the development of methodologies aimed at emancipating interests of diabetes and improving health equity.

Language

English

Keywords

Diabetes, Photovoice, Participatory Action Research, African American

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Communication

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Department of Communication and Journalism

First Committee Member (Chair)

Jaelyn DeMaria

Second Committee Member

Judith White

Third Committee Member

Kathy Issacson

Fourth Committee Member

Magdalena Avila

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Available for download on Thursday, July 31, 2025

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