COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO — What are the keys of a successful relationship among African-American men and women who live in the Pikes Peak region? What is and isn’t — working for them?
A University of Colorado at Colorado Springs professor of sociology is asking the questions. But more importantly, she seeks answers from those individuals who have made their relationships work and who are willing to share their experiences. She hopes to share that information with others who might be struggling in their relationships and to demonstrate to young people that long-term relationships are possible though not always easy.
Dickson defines “successful” as individuals who are committed to the relationship. She isn’t looking only for “Cosby” type characters but rather real-life individuals and their stories, positive and negative.
“African-Americans in particular are retreating from marriage and committed relationships at a rate that far exceeds that of other racial and ethnic groups as well as for African-Americans historically,” Lynda Dickson, associate professor, Sociology said. “What I hope to learn from local couples is a greater understanding of strategies they are employing in their relationships.”
For her research, Dickson hopes to connect with as many African-Americans who are in committed relationships as possible. Those committed relationships can be formal such as marriage or informal such as cohabitation. The relationships can be new or long-term but the participants must currently be in a committed relationship. Dickson wants to include couples who are living together because of higher rates of cohabitation among African-Americans and her interest in the similarities and differences between those who chose to live together and those who marry. One factor she hopes to examine is the role of religious upbringing in the decision to marry or cohabitate.
To participate, individuals can log on to a university web site and complete a 10-minute survey. Survey respondents will also be invited to participate in focus groups. Information provided in either the on-line survey or the focus groups is confidential.
The survey can be found at http://web.uccs.edu/couplesurvey. If you would like to participate but do not have computer access, Dickson will mail a survey. Her telephone number is 262-4142.
This is the second phase of Dickson’s research. In 2002, she completed a survey of interracial couples. A final stage will include a study of African-American singles. She hopes to use the information collected in her work to prepare a book the changing lifestyles of African-Americans.
CU-Colorado Springs, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in northeast Colorado Springs, is the fastest growing university in Colorado and one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. The university offers 25 bachelor’s degrees, 17 master’s and two doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls more than 7,400 students annually.