Hospital-based employees' opinions about adolescents of four racial-ethnic groups.
We obtained opinions about adolescents' characteristics and behaviors from 290 employees of a medical school and its hospitals. Employees were asked for their opinions about 4 positive, 2 neutral, and 6 negative characteristics and about 5 sexual, 8 substance use, and 5 relationship behaviors. Most employees were willing to characterize adolescents in general, but fewer were willing to express opinions about white, black, Mexican-American or Oriental teens in particular. There was poor correspondence between the general adolescent ratings, the ratings of the racial-ethnic groups, and reports in the literature. The respondents, unable to accurately describe white and black teens, could not characterize Mexican-American teens and characterized Oriental teens predominantly in the category "least likely to behave this way." The data suggest that adults' stereotyping of adolescents' behaviors and characteristics is common and suggests the need for programs to better inform adults about adolescents.
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D044383:Black People; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D013240:Stereotyping; D013781:Texas; D044465:White People