Latino adolescents' mental health: exploring the interrelations among discrimination, ethnic identity, cultural orientation, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms.
Guided by a risk and resilience framework, the current study used cross-sectional data to examine the degree to which Latino adolescents' (N=274; M age=16.3; 47.1% female) self-esteem, ethnic identity, and cultural orientations mediated or moderated the relation between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms. Utilizing a multiple group comparison approach, path analyses indicated that higher levels of ethnic identity exploration and resolution significantly predicted higher levels of self-esteem for both boys and girls. Furthermore, self-esteem partially mediated the relation between perceived discrimination and adolescents' depressive symptoms. Additional analyses revealed that boys' cultural orientations moderated the relation between perceived discrimination and both self-esteem and depressive symptoms. Taken together, findings indicated that various aspects of the self (i.e. self-esteem, ethnic identity, cultural orientations) can protect and/or enhance the risks associated with discrimination.
Umaña-Taylor
Adriana J
AJ
Arizona State University, Department of Family and Human Development, PO Box 872502, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA. adriana.umana-taylor@asu.edu
Updegraff
Kimberly A
KA
D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D015146:Midwestern United States; D011287:Prejudice; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires