title: Importance of race and ethnicity: an exploration of Asian, Black, Latino, and multiracial adolescent identity.
abstract: This mixed-method study used a grounded theory approach to explore the meanings underlying the importance that adolescents attach to their racial-ethnic identities. The sample consisted of 923 9th- to 12th-grade students from Black, Latino, Asian, and multiracial backgrounds. Thematic findings identified a broad range of explanations for adolescents' racial-ethnic centrality, ranging from pride and cultural connection to ambivalence and colorblind attitudes. While racial-ethnic groups differed in reported levels of racial-ethnic centrality, few group differences were identified in participants' thematic explanations, with the exception of racial-ethnic and gender differences for Positive Regard and Disengagement. These findings highlight the diversity of meanings that adolescents attribute to their racial-ethnic centrality as well as the many commonalities among adolescents across gender and racial-ethnic groups.
authors.affiliation: Wellesley Centers for Women, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02481-8203, USA.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Charmaraman
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Grossman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology*; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011582:Psychological Theory; D044469:Racial Groups; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D001741:Black or African American