"Maybe black girls do yoga": A focus group study with predominantly low-income African-American women.
Sandi M Tenfelde, Lena Hatchett, Karen L Saban
Complementary Therapies in Medicine October 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2017.11.017 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 22 |
| Population | Predominantly low-income (75% reported income under $50,000) and single (82%) African American women in an urban Midwest setting, in three age-stratified focus groups (18-34, 35-65, and 66+ years) |
| Measures | Perceived Stressor Scale, Beliefs About Yoga Scale, Determinants of Meditation Practice Inventory (DOMPI) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | African american women Focus group Yoga |
| Key findings | African American women in the focus groups acknowledged stress in their lives and interest in yoga and mindfulness, but identified barriers including limited access to convenient classes, time constraints (especially among younger women), and for older women a potential conflict between the spiritual component of yoga/mindfulness and current coping strategies. Participants offered suggestions for bringing these practices into their communities. |
Abstract
To explore African American (AA) women's use of mind-body therapies, such as yoga and mindfulness, and factors that impact their experiences, observations and opinions. Focus groups were conducted to better understand how AA women perceive mind-body therapies and how to best bring these interventions into their community. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. The urban Midwest. In addition to qualitative outcomes, descriptive measures included the Perceived Stressor Scale, Beliefs About Yoga Scale, and Determinants of Meditation Practice Inventory (DOMPI). Twenty-two, predominantly low-income (75% reported income <$50,000) and single (82%) women participated in three age stratified focus groups (18-34 years, 35-65 years, 66 years and older). Participants acknowledged life stress and shared common coping mechanisms. They recognized that yoga and mindfulness could be beneficial and discussed barriers to practice (including personal and structural). Younger women reported more time constraints as barriers, middle aged women had more experience with yoga, and older women identified the spiritual component to yoga/mindfulness as potentially conflicting with current coping strategies. Participants suggested ways to share mind-body therapies within the AA community along with solutions for engagement. AA women acknowledged stress in their lives and recognized the need for additional coping measures. Although women reported interest in yoga/mindfulness they identified barriers, including limited access to convenient classes, and offered suggestions for bringing yoga and mindfulness to their communities.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Adapting Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Black American Communities: A Scoping Review Mindfulness August 1, 2023
- A Digital Music-Based Mindfulness Intervention for Black Americans With Elevated Race-Based Anxiety: A Multiple-Baseline Pilot Study. JMIR Formative Research August 16, 2023
- Mandela Yoga: a community case study for a post-incarceration reentry service for men of color in recovery. Frontiers in Public Health 2025
- Leveraging research for health insurance coverage of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: insights from policy makers, patients and practitioners. Evidence & policy : a journal of research, debate and practice April 4, 2025
- The Evolution of an Indigenous Mindfulness Program: Qualitative Findings from the IndigenousMIND Study. Mindfulness February 25, 2026
and 3 more in the library
Cites 8
- The Cultural Relevance of Mindfulness Meditation as a Health Intervention for African Americans Journal of Holistic Nursing January 17, 2014
- Exploring Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Associated With Meditation Among Patients With Melanoma. Integrative Cancer Therapies June 2018
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for overweight/obese women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome: design and methods of a pilot randomized controlled trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials February 7, 2015
- Loving-kindness meditation's effects on nitric oxide and perceived well-being: a pilot study in experienced and inexperienced meditators. Explore 2015
- Evaluation of a mindfulness-based intervention program to decrease blood pressure in low-income African-American older adults. Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine April 1, 2012
and 3 more in the library