Perceived discrimination and the adjustment of African American youths: a five-year longitudinal analysis with contextual moderation effects.
Longitudinal links between perceived racial discrimination and later conduct problems and depressive symptoms were examined among 714 African American adolescents who were 10-12 years old at recruitment. Data were gathered 3 times over a 5-year period. Hypotheses were tested via latent curve modeling and multiple-group latent growth modeling. Increases in perceived discrimination were associated with increased conduct problems and depressive symptoms. This association was weaker when youths received nurturant-involved parenting, affiliated with prosocial friends, and performed well academically. For conduct problems, the association was stronger for boys than for girls; for depressive symptoms, no gender differences emerged. The findings thus identify contextual variables that moderate the contribution of perceived discrimination to African American youths' adjustment.
Brody
Gene H
GH
University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-4527, USA. gbrody@uga.edu
Chen
Yi-Fu
YF
Murry
Velma McBride
VM
Ge
Xiaojia
X
Simons
Ronald L
RL
Gibbons
Frederick X
FX
Gerrard
Meg
M
Cutrona
Carolyn E
CE
D000124:Achievement; D001741:Black or African American; D002648:Child; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011287:Prejudice; D012917:Social Adjustment