title: Ethnic identity development and ethnic discrimination: examining longitudinal associations with adjustment for Mexican-origin adolescent mothers.
abstract: Few studies examine normative developmental processes among teenage mothers. Framed from a risk and resilience perspective, this prospective study examined the potential for ethnic identity status (e.g., diffuse, achieved), a normative developmental task during adolescence, to buffer the detrimental effects of discrimination on later adjustment and self-esteem in a sample of 204 Mexican-origin adolescent mothers. Ethnic discrimination was associated with increases in depressive symptoms and decreases in self-esteem over time, regardless of ethnic identity status. However, ethnic discrimination was only associated with increases in engagement in risky behavior among diffuse adolescents, suggesting that achieved or foreclosed identities buffered the risk of ethnic discrimination on later risky behavior. Findings suggest that ethnic identity resolution (i.e., the component shared by those in foreclosed and achieved statuses) may be a key cultural factor to include in prevention and intervention efforts aimed to reduce the negative effects of ethnic discrimination on later externalizing problems.
authors.affiliation: T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 873701, Tempe, AZ 85287-3701, USA. Russell.Toomey@asu.edu
authors.forename: Russell B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Toomey
authors.forename: Adriana J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Umaña-Taylor
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Updegraff
authors.forename: Laudan B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Jahromi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D063508:Social Discrimination; D015206:Southwestern United States
keywords: Ethnic discrimination; Ethnic identity; Latina adolescents; Risky behavior; Teen parenting