The Game is the Game: Othermothering and HBCU Student Affairs Job Burnout: A Quantitative Study

Author

Adolphus A. McDonald III, Clemson UniversityFollow

Date of Award

8-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education and Organizational Leadership Development

Committee Chair/Advisor

Dr. Natasha Croom

Committee Member

Dr. Thomas Britt

Committee Member

Dr. Rachel Wagner

Committee Member

Dr. Michelle Boettcher

Abstract

This study investigated the use of othermothering as a relationship building approach in student affairs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and its association with job burnout outcomes in HBCU student affairs professionals. Job burnout outcomes affect job turnover intention decisions (Michaels & Spector, 1982); therefore, this quantitative study investigated whether othermothering and additional demographic factors were a root cause to job burnout and job turnover intention among HBCU SAPs. The review of literature provides knowledge on the foundation of othermothering which began as a term to describe Black slave women caring for children displaced and separated due to the slave trade. Othermothering, within the context of this study, describes the familial approach HBCU SAPs use to grow connection and provide support to HBCU students (Hirt et al, 2008). I presented othermothering as a tool coupled within institutional guardianship framework, as othermothering best applies to the protection of the student, and institutional guardianship protecting the institution (HBCUs). Cultural advancement of Black people is presented as the main incentive for the application of institutional guardianship and othermothering in HBCU SAP work (Hirt et al, 2008; Flowers et al, 2015). Descriptive statistics were produced using regression analysis comparing scores of job burnout, othermothering, and job turnover intention. Furthermore, I found correlating relationships among job burnout, othermothering, and job turnover intention. I recommended that leadership and their incumbents embrace job burnout and deject individual internalization of job burnout experiences; therefore, enabling positive discourse and healthier work experiences for HBCU SAPs.

Recommended Citation

McDonald, Adolphus A. III, "The Game is the Game: Othermothering and HBCU Student Affairs Job Burnout: A Quantitative Study" (2024). All Dissertations. 3680.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/3680