Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology · 2009 · 312 citations · 52 references
EducationEducational PsychologySocial PsychologyIntergroup RelationsPrejudiceStereotypingAdolescent Identity DevelopmentCultural Influences On AdolescenceEthnicity In EducationEthnicity In SchoolingRace In EducationRace In SchoolingEthnic Identity In EducationEthnic-racial Identity DevelopmentRacialized Experiences In EducationWhiteness In Schools
The study discusses how different socialization messages can pose risks or benefits for youths across ecological contexts. The authors investigated how cultural socialization and preparation for bias relate to academic and behavioral outcomes, hypothesizing that ethnic affirmation and self‑esteem mediate these relationships. The study used data from 805 African American and White early adolescents in an integrated suburban school district to test mediation by ethnic affirmation and self‑esteem. Cultural socialization was positively associated with academic and behavioral outcomes, partially mediated by ethnic affirmation and self‑esteem; preparation for bias was linked to poorer academic outcomes, fully mediated by ethnic affirmation and self‑esteem, with stronger effects for White youths.
The authors examined relationships between cultural socialization and preparation for bias and youth outcomes. Using data from 805 African American and White early adolescents attending school in an integrated middle-class suburban school district in the northeastern United States, the authors hypothesized that ethnic affirmation and self-esteem would mediate relations between ethnic-racial socialization and more distal academic and behavioral outcomes. Cultural socialization was positively associated with academic and behavioral outcomes, and these associations were partially mediated by ethnic affirmation and self-esteem. Preparation for bias was associated with more negative academic outcomes, and these relationships were fully mediated by ethnic affirmation and self-esteem. Relationships of preparation for bias to youth outcomes were generally stronger for White compared with African American youths. The risks and benefits of different socialization messages for youths in various ecological contexts are discussed.
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