Faculty Bibliography

In this study, the authors examined (a) the protective potential of multiple components of ethnic and racial identity and (b) the aspects of an Africentric orientation for moderating psychobehavioral risk and protective factors for drug use among a sample of 333 urban low-income African American young adults. Ethnic and racial identity and Africentric variables moderated the relationship between psychobehavioral variables and drug stage in 32.5% of the cases. Ethnic and racial identity and Africentric values for African American young adults seemed to be important as moderators of the association between psychobehavioral factors and young adult drug use. The authors suggested implications for future research and interventions

For adolescents of color, the search for an identity includes exploring the meanings of their ethnic group membership in the context of White mainstream society. Theory has described ethnic identity development as a process characterized by a period of exploration, followed by commitment. However, little longitudinal research has attempted to test this theoretical model. In addition, most research has not distinguished separate dimensions (cognitive, affective) of ethnic identity. This study explored levels and developmental trajectories of two key dimensions of ethnic identity, exploration and affirmation and belonging, among a sample of 184 low-income ethnic and racial minority urban adolescents (48% male, 28.3% Black, 53.3% Latino, and 18.5% Asian American) over the course of five years. In addition, the study assessed the relationship between these two dimensions of ethnic identity and self-esteem. Consistent with developmental theory, individual growth modeling identified an average curvilinear trajectory of ethnic identity exploration characterized by a peak in the mid to late high school years, followed by a subsequent decrease. However, gender and ethnicity moderated this pattern, and perceived discrimination by peers was related to heightened levels of exploration. For example, while most adolescents showed a leveling off of exploration towards the end of high school, Black males dramatically increased their exploration, possibly due to increasing perceptions of group discrimination directed against young Black males. No average growth pattern was detected in affirmation and belonging, suggesting that developmental change in adolescence may primarily occur in cognitive dimensions, not in affective dimensions of ethnic identity. However, Chinese American adolescents displayed overall lower levels of affirmation and belonging than their Black and Latino peers, possibly due to their marginalized role in their school. Taken together, these findings highlight the distinctness of dimensions of ethnic identity and the importance of contextualizing ethnic identity development. Both ethnic identity exploration and affirmation and belonging contributed significantly to self-esteem. This finding was robust across ethnicity, gender, and immigrant status, suggesting that adolescents from diverse backgrounds benefit from higher levels of ethnic identity.

Using quantitative and qualitative methods, the present study sought to explore: the patterns or types of closest, same-sex friendships among ethnic minority, low-income adolescents; the psychological and familial correlates of these patterns; and the adolescents' subjective experiences of each type of closest, same-sex friendships. Two hundred and thirteen African American, Latino, and Asian American high school students participated in the study. Results of duster analyses suggested four types of closest, same-sex friendships: (i) 'ideal'; (ii) 'engaged'; (iii) 'average'; and (iv) 'disengaged.' Girls and Latinos were most likely to have 'ideal' friendships, while boys and Asian Americans were most likely to have 'disengaged' friendships. In addition, the 'disengaged' adolescents reported significantly lower self-esteem, higher levels of depressive symptoms, and lower levels of family support than the adolescents in the other cluster groups. The qualitative data suggested across and within group variability in the subjective experiences of closest, same-sex friendships. Findings suggest new directions for friendship research as well as new ways of conceptualizing the integration of quantitative and qualitative data.

This longitudinal study examined the separate, relative, and combined contributions of demographic (i.e., gender and ethnicity), individual-level (i.e., psychological well-being), and contextual (i.e., relationships with parents and perceived school climate) factors on changes over time in perceived quality of general and closest same-sex friendships among 114 Asian American, Black, and Latino adolescents from low-income families. Multiple regression analyses indicated that the increase in reported levels of general friendship support from Time 1 to Time 2 (a 1-year period) was greater for those who reported more positive perceptions of school climate at Time 1. The increase in general friendship support from Time 1 to Time 2 was also greater for those who reported lower support scores from mothers at Time 1. Findings suggest a compensatory model of relationships and draw attention to the importance of exploring the ecological context of adolescent friendships.