Exploring Personal Coping Strategies of Young Black Men raised by Single Mothers

This article reports on investigation of the personal coping strategies of young black men (YBM) raised by single mothers. An interpretivist paradigm was used to gain insight into YBM coping strategies and to explore their lived experiences. This was a qualitative study that employed purposive and snowball methods of sampling. The study sample consisted of nine participants and data were collected through semi-structured interviews, both face-to-face and telephonically. Inductive thematic analysis approach was used to analyze data. The study revealed that, despite being faced by significant risk factors, the young black men had internal locus of control and they managed to demonstrate self-efficacy to surmount the challenges. Furthermore, the study also showed that the young black men identified and accessed the available resources to help them to overcome adversity.