Racial Socialization's Moderating Effect Between Poverty Stress and Psychological Symptoms for African American Youth

Abstract

Research indicates that African Americans living in an oppressive society may be at an increased risk of experiencing psychological symptoms. Oppressive society has been defined as the continual denial of resources to marginalized groups. This study examined the possible moderating effects of racial socialization (using Scale of Racial Socialization—Adolescent) in the relationship between poverty and psychological symptoms (externalizing and internalizing symptoms). The sample consisted of 105 African American adolescents, aged 11 to 15, from a large midwestern city. Racial socialization was expected to reduce psychological symptomatology. There was an unexpected finding of a positive relationship between racial socialization and externalizing symptoms. Although significant moderating effects were found for racial socialization, no protective effect was demonstrated in this study. Future research directions are discussed.