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Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Youth and Adolescence 10/2014

01-10-2014 | Empirical Research

Examining Multiracial Youth in Context: Ethnic Identity Development and Mental Health Outcomes

Auteurs: Sycarah Fisher, Jennifer L. Reynolds, Wei-Wen Hsu, Jessica Barnes, Kenneth Tyler

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Youth and Adolescence | Uitgave 10/2014

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Abstract

Although multiracial individuals are the fastest growing population in the United States, research on the identity development of multiracial adolescents remains scant. This study explores the relationship between ethnic identity, its components (affirmation, exploration), and mental health outcomes (anxiety, depressive symptoms) within the contexts of schools for multiracial adolescents. The participants were multiracial and monoracial minority and majority high school students (n = 4,766; 54.6 % female). Among the participants, 88.1 % were Caucasian, 7.4 % were African American, and 4.5 % were multiracial. The research questions examined the relationship between ethnic identity exploration and affirmation on mental health outcomes and explored the role school context plays in this relationship. The findings suggested that multiracial youth experience more exploration and less affirmation than African Americans, but more than Caucasians. In addition, multiracial youth were found to have higher levels of mental health issues than their monoracial minority and majority peers. Specifically, multiracial youth had higher levels of depressive symptoms than their African American and Caucasian counterparts. Multiracial and Caucasian youth had similar levels of anxiety but these levels were significantly higher than African Americans. School diversity did not influence mental health outcomes for multiracial youth. These findings provide insight into the experiences of multiracial youth and underscore the importance of further investigating factors that contribute to their mental health outcomes.
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Metagegevens
Titel
Examining Multiracial Youth in Context: Ethnic Identity Development and Mental Health Outcomes
Auteurs
Sycarah Fisher
Jennifer L. Reynolds
Wei-Wen Hsu
Jessica Barnes
Kenneth Tyler
Publicatiedatum
01-10-2014
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Youth and Adolescence / Uitgave 10/2014
Print ISSN: 0047-2891
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-6601
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-014-0163-2

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