Project Director

Simoni, Zachary

Department Examiner

Walsh, Darrell

Department

Dept. of Sociology, Anthropology, and Geography

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

Pain is a universal experience that we human beings experience daily, whether mentally, physically, or emotionally. Encountering pain is a fundamental aspect of the human experience, serving as a universal reminder of our shared humanity. It operates as an internal alarm system, alerting us to disruptions in both external and internal equilibrium, thereby highlighting the importance of maintaining homeostasis. With this universal sensation felt by all of humankind for millions of years, in a more modern context, there exists a need to understand how a universal connection is measured. As pain is felt on a universal scale such as the 1-10 Measurement systems seen through the medical sector, the perception of pain and treatment for its varying degrees is not universal. It is essential to recognize that each person’s experience of pain is unique, even when faced with similar injuries. This subjectivity in pain perception is shaped by intricate interactions among biological, psychological, and social factors. Like many systems and policies in place in the United States and countries abroad, there are racial ideations interwoven into how social institutions - Medicine, Education, and Politics – influence the treatment of minority communities systematically. In the examination of racial ideations in the development of pain scale systems within the medical field, as well as their contribution to continued mistreatment and malpractice, the focus of this dissertation seeks to examine the combination of historical and contemporary perspectives to explore how racial bias has impacted pain assessment practices and exacerbated disparities in pain management among African American men and women.

Acknowledgments

The composition of this paper was nothing short of hard work, dedication in times when uncertainty was high, and monumental support from an amazing team. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my director Dr. Zachary Simoni for his valuable guidance, insight, and unwavering support throughout the development of this thesis. Dr. Simoni’s expertise and encouragement have been instrumental in shaping my research and academic journey. He has been a light and fundamental player in building the needed confidence in this journey of writing, research, and the finalization of it all. From their first-ever research methods course his to look deeper into his work on the very topic discussed in my examination below, I cannot give any higher thanks. I am also grateful to my committee members for their thoughtful feedback and support, which have strengthened the depth and clarity of this project. I am also grateful to the entire Sociology Department at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for providing the resources and support necessary to conduct this research. Special thanks to not only Dr. Simoni but as well as for Dr. Darrel Walsh and Dr. Natalie Blanton for their assistance in navigating research materials and methodologies. As well as for Dr. Julia Cummiskey for her guidance and support. Furthermore, I am deeply grateful for the help of UTC’s Honors College for believing in me and thoroughly preparing me for such an immersive yet academically blissful task. Thank you so much to my honors Ms. Sherese Williams and my academic advisor Ms. Deanna Cameron for being the needed backbones for this project. The guidance of you both has contentiously reminded me that I am capable of accomplishing anything I put my mind to. You both have instilled in me that I am always where I need to be despite external noise. Additionally, I would like to thank Meharry Medical College and my research mentors for offering opportunities that expanded my knowledge of health disparities, maternal and infant mortality, and racialized medical narratives—topics that have profoundly influenced this thesis. Such an opportunity would not have been possible without the much-needed support of Dr. Shewanee Howard-Baptiste and Ms. Alexis Hurley of UTC’s Academic Affairs Department. It was a pleasure to attend and expand my knowledge on the importance of public health, preconception health, and health and wellness with Meharry Medical Colleges HBCU Wellness 2024 Summer Institute Student Health Ambassador Program. Such a program and experience have provided great opportunities to further my experience with conducting research and independent studies on Preconception Health Amongst College Students Healthy Habits and Hypertension and the effects of proper resources and social determinants that may expedite this health concern amongst African American women in the southern United States. I am also immensely grateful to my peers and fellow researchers, including for their insightful discussions, encouragement, and camaraderie throughout this journey. Their support has not only contributed to my academic growth but has also made this experience deeply rewarding. Finally, I owe my deepest gratitude to my family and close friends, whose unwavering support, patience, and belief in me have carried me through the most challenging moments of this process. Balancing research, coursework, and full-time work has not been easy, but their encouragement has been my greatest source of strength. This thesis reflects their love, sacrifice, and constant reassurance that I am capable of achieving my goals. To everyone who has been part of this journey—thank you.

Degree

B. S.; An honors thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Science.

Date

5-2025

Subject

African Americans--Medical care--Social aspects--United States; Discrimination in medical care--United States; Maternal health services--Moral and ethical aspects--United States

Keyword

Chronic Pain; Pain Perception; Medical Intervention; Intergroup Anxiety; Henrietta Lacks; Sociology

Discipline

Medicine and Health

Document Type

Theses

Extent

57 unnumbered leaves

DCMI Type

Text

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

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