Author. Sections of the transcripts were read and coded by the first author as well as by the coinvestigators to enhance the study’s reliability. Weekly memos written by the first author were shared with study coinvestigators to receive critical feedback during the process of analysis. Memos were utilized to stimulate analytic insight and to tie pieces of data together (Maxwell, 1996). The next phase of the content analysis process was the development of categories, which were then conceptualized into broader themes that fit under the three topic categories we wanted to address in this study (i.e., experiences with depression, barriers to seeking treatment, and coping strategies). This process involved objectively analyzing the contextual information that emerged from the codes, and subsequently identifying and categorizing the main themes and patterns found in the data (Berg, 1995; Patton, 1990). At 37 interviews, there was saturation of data in that the interviews no longer yielded new information. Therefore, the researcher concluded this study with a total of 37 interviews.I-CBP112 site NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptResultsThematic analysis of the 37 interviews with African-American older adults within our three major topic areas yielded a number of interesting themes and sub-themes in relation to (1) Beliefs About Depression Among Older African-Americans; (2) Barriers to Seeking Mental Health Treatment; and (3) Culturally Endorsed Coping Strategies for African-American Older Adults with Depression. These themes are discussed in detail in the following sectionsAging Ment Health. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2011 March 17.Conner et al.Page(Table 2), and statements made by interview participants that reflect the themes are reported. To protect anonymity, pseudonyms are utilized to represent study participants.NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptBeliefs about depression among older African-Americans The older adults in this study discussed very powerful experiences growing up as AfricanAmericans and living in the Black community, and how those experiences shaped their identity, including their attitudes and beliefs about mental health. Questions asked during the qualitative interview BMS-791325 custom synthesis included questions about their personal experience with depression: (1) What does being depressed mean to you?: (2) Were you worried to tell anyone that you were depressed?: and (3) Have you had negative experiences in your community due to your feeling depressed? We also asked some questions about their perceptions of depression among African-Americans in general (e.g., Is depression generally accepted in the AfricanAmerican community?). Cultural beliefs Most participants acknowledged that the Black community is not largely tolerant of individuals suffering from depression, or any other mental health problem. Participants attributed intolerance to the socialization received in Black families about mental health problems and how to handle them in a culturally appropriate manner. Participants endorsed the belief that African-Americans should not talk openly about their mental health problems. They believed that an individual experiencing depressive symptoms should keep this information to oneself. `I don’t think we discuss it that much, Black people If you’re depressed, nobody knows. You don’t tell people, you know. They just look at you. figuring you might have a problem, but you do.Author. Sections of the transcripts were read and coded by the first author as well as by the coinvestigators to enhance the study’s reliability. Weekly memos written by the first author were shared with study coinvestigators to receive critical feedback during the process of analysis. Memos were utilized to stimulate analytic insight and to tie pieces of data together (Maxwell, 1996). The next phase of the content analysis process was the development of categories, which were then conceptualized into broader themes that fit under the three topic categories we wanted to address in this study (i.e., experiences with depression, barriers to seeking treatment, and coping strategies). This process involved objectively analyzing the contextual information that emerged from the codes, and subsequently identifying and categorizing the main themes and patterns found in the data (Berg, 1995; Patton, 1990). At 37 interviews, there was saturation of data in that the interviews no longer yielded new information. Therefore, the researcher concluded this study with a total of 37 interviews.NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptResultsThematic analysis of the 37 interviews with African-American older adults within our three major topic areas yielded a number of interesting themes and sub-themes in relation to (1) Beliefs About Depression Among Older African-Americans; (2) Barriers to Seeking Mental Health Treatment; and (3) Culturally Endorsed Coping Strategies for African-American Older Adults with Depression. These themes are discussed in detail in the following sectionsAging Ment Health. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2011 March 17.Conner et al.Page(Table 2), and statements made by interview participants that reflect the themes are reported. To protect anonymity, pseudonyms are utilized to represent study participants.NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptBeliefs about depression among older African-Americans The older adults in this study discussed very powerful experiences growing up as AfricanAmericans and living in the Black community, and how those experiences shaped their identity, including their attitudes and beliefs about mental health. Questions asked during the qualitative interview included questions about their personal experience with depression: (1) What does being depressed mean to you?: (2) Were you worried to tell anyone that you were depressed?: and (3) Have you had negative experiences in your community due to your feeling depressed? We also asked some questions about their perceptions of depression among African-Americans in general (e.g., Is depression generally accepted in the AfricanAmerican community?). Cultural beliefs Most participants acknowledged that the Black community is not largely tolerant of individuals suffering from depression, or any other mental health problem. Participants attributed intolerance to the socialization received in Black families about mental health problems and how to handle them in a culturally appropriate manner. Participants endorsed the belief that African-Americans should not talk openly about their mental health problems. They believed that an individual experiencing depressive symptoms should keep this information to oneself. `I don’t think we discuss it that much, Black people If you’re depressed, nobody knows. You don’t tell people, you know. They just look at you. figuring you might have a problem, but you do.