Patterns of Identity and Perceived Racial Barriers: Relationships to Problem and Pro-Social Behaviors

Introduction:

Being connected with one's community leads to more positive youth outcomes (Rivas-Drake et al., 2014, Sampson, et al., 1997). Thus, connectedness with one’s racial-ethnic group may also foster positive youth development. However, attaining a positive racial-ethnic identity is a complex developmental task for minority youth (Erikson, 1968; Spencer et al., 2002). Research has found racial-ethnic pride to be related to more positive youth development outcomes, while perceived barriers is often a risk factor (Hughes et al., 2006). Yet, sentiment points to a desire to prepare minority youth for discrimination. While some research has not detected gender differences in patterns of identity (Chavous et al., 2008), others have found identity to matter in different ways for minority boys and girls (Cokley, 2001). Drawing upon ecological/phenomological conceptual models of identity development (Spencer, et al., 2002), we plan to use person-centered approaches, examining boys and girls separately to examine adaptive patterns of identity development related to behaviors.

Methods:

Data were collected from youth, grades 2-5, participating in 75 community-based afterschool programs in the northeast. Minority youth (N=743, 47.6%) reported racial-ethnic identity (i.e. pride, perceived racial barriers), collective efficacy (interactions supportive of positive behavioral norms), social cohesion, and socio-emotional health (e.g. conduct problems, and prosocial behavior, i.e. caring, sharing, and listening). Latent profile analyses (LPA) was used to identify patterns of socio-emotional-behavioral outcomes.

Results:

Profile solutions ranged from 2-5 and were evaluated on a range of model fit indices including the AIC, BIC, Entropy index and BLRT, as well as substantive considerations. LPA results support a three profile solution among the minority boys: 1) high racial-ethnic pride, collective efficacy/low perceived racial barriers; 2) low pride, efficacy/high perceived barriers; 3) high pride and efficacy/high perceived barriers. Minority boys with high perceived racial barriers and low efficacy were lowest in racial-ethnic pride, prosocial behaviors and more problem behaviors. However, the boys in profile 3, despite high perceived barriers, had higher means of collective efficacy, pride, prosocial behaviors and fewer problem behaviors. Similar analysis will be conducted with the girls.

Conclusions:

Based on a developmental-ecological-resilience framework (García-Coll et al., 1996), when minority boys perceive high levels of racial barriers, caring relationships with adults and peers in the community can serve as protective factors against feeling isolated and inefficacious. This result suggests that intervention can focus on improving youth’s connectedness with their community in order to prevent behavior problems and bring out more desirable youth behaviors.