Degree Date

8-2026

Document Type

Dissertation - Public Access

Degree Name

Psy.D. Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Academic Discipline

Clinical Psychology

First Advisor

Crystal Collier, PsyD

Second Advisor

Elizabeth Lane, PhD

Abstract

This dissertation examines how generational trauma and chronic stress may relate to gut health and mood outcomes among Black women. Using a literature review design, this work brings together research on intergenerational trauma, gendered racism, Superwoman Schema, weathering, allostatic load, mood disorders, reproductive health disparities, and the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The central argument is that depression, anxiety, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, reproductive vulnerability, and healthcare mistrust should not be understood as fully separate concerns when they may be shaped by shared stress conditions. The proposed integrated model does not claim that trauma directly causes gut dysbiosis or mood disorders. Instead, it suggests that generational trauma and chronic stress may create conditions in which gut-related dysregulation and mood symptoms become more likely, especially when recovery, protection, and responsive care are limited. Clinical implications include multisystem assessment, culturally responsive psychotherapy, cautious use of gut-focused interventions, and care delivery models that improve access, trust, and continuity for Black women.

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