Critical Consciousness & Pain

In the realm of pain and health psychology, there has been a historical tendency to center on assisting individuals in minoritized communities in adapting to and coping with oppression, rather than acknowledging and harnessing their innate power and agency, which inherently constitute acts of resistance. This exclusive focus on adapting to racism, rather than empowering individuals, contributes to health disparities in pain management and reinforces colonial perspectives that BIPOC are passive recipients of social forces. 

Shifting the paradigm from a deficit-focused and harm-reduction approach to one of empowerment, Dr. Nguyen's successfully defended dissertation examined the role of critical consciousness in the context of racism and chronic pain outcomes among racial and ethnic minorities living with chronic pain. Critical consciousness encompasses levels of awareness, motivation, and actions taken by individuals to challenge and resist injustice. 

Dr. Nguyen's dissertation contends that BIPOC, whether actively or passively, consistently engage in varying degrees of resistance and defiance against discrimination and injustice. Thus, investigating the relationship between critical consciousness, racism, and pain-related outcomes within this demographic enriches our etiology of chronic pain among BIPOC and informs more comprehensive approaches to their care.

Dr. Nguyen's dissertation has garnered multiple grants and awards, including the Division 17 Counseling Health Psychology Student Research Award and the TTU Graduate Research Grant ($1,000). The manuscript is currently under review for publication. Notably, Dr. Nguyen's research reveals that while critical consciousness is an empowerment-driven concept, it may also exacerbate stress related to justice issues among BIPOC living with chronic pain. These insights illuminate the intricate realities of minoritized communities, where their inherent power and agency can also become sources of distress and burden, in the face of both social pain (racism) and physical chronic pain.

By recognizing that individuals who are deeply involved in advocacy and activism may experience unique stressors, we can develop tailored interventions and support systems to bolster their mental and physical well-being. This means fostering a collective healing environment where individuals, particularly those from minoritized communities, can channel their newfound awareness and agency into constructive actions while mitigating the potential adverse effects on their health. Further, considering recent data suggesting that 70% of Gen Z is actively engaged in social or political causes, the insights regarding critical consciousness and its impact on health prepare the fields of health and counseling psychology to effectively serve this prominent generation of politically active individuals.

In essence, this research not only expands our theoretical understanding of decolonizing psychology but also provides practical insights that can drive positive change in how we approach healthcare, counseling, and advocacy in a world increasingly characterized by social and political activism.

*Current and Future Project:

 Leveraging data from my dissertation, Dr. Nguyen intends to apply Latent Profile Analysis to uncover distinct profile classes based on participants' identities, levels of critical consciousness, and psychosocial resources (e.g., hope, community support, access to care), as well as their corresponding health-related outcomes. This analytical approach will reveal valuable insights into the various psychosocial resources that play a crucial role in safeguarding the health and overall well-being of BIPOC individuals who engage in acts of resistance.