The effects of changes in racial identity and self-esteem on changes in African American adolescents' mental health

Jelani Mandara; Noni K. Gaylord-Harden; Maryse H. Richards; Brian L. Ragsdale

doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01360.x

The effects of changes in racial identity and self-esteem on changes in African American adolescents' mental health

Jelani Mandara^*, Noni K. Gaylord-Harden, Maryse H. Richards, Brian L. Ragsdale

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Education and Social Policy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

102 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study assessed the unique effects of racial identity and self-esteem on 259 African American adolescents' depressive and anxiety symptoms as they transitioned from the 7th to 8th grades (ages 12-14). Racial identity and self-esteem were strongly correlated with each other for males but not for females. For both males and females, an increase in racial identity over the 1 year was associated with a decrease in the prevalence of depressive symptoms over the same period, even with self-esteem controlled. It was concluded that racial identity may be as important as self-esteem to the mental health of African American adolescents, and it explains variance in their mental health not associated with feelings of oneself as an individual.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1660-1675
Number of pages	16
Journal	Child development
Volume	80
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01360.x
State	Published - Nov 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Education
Developmental and Educational Psychology
Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01360.x

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abstract = "This study assessed the unique effects of racial identity and self-esteem on 259 African American adolescents' depressive and anxiety symptoms as they transitioned from the 7th to 8th grades (ages 12-14). Racial identity and self-esteem were strongly correlated with each other for males but not for females. For both males and females, an increase in racial identity over the 1 year was associated with a decrease in the prevalence of depressive symptoms over the same period, even with self-esteem controlled. It was concluded that racial identity may be as important as self-esteem to the mental health of African American adolescents, and it explains variance in their mental health not associated with feelings of oneself as an individual.",

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AB - This study assessed the unique effects of racial identity and self-esteem on 259 African American adolescents' depressive and anxiety symptoms as they transitioned from the 7th to 8th grades (ages 12-14). Racial identity and self-esteem were strongly correlated with each other for males but not for females. For both males and females, an increase in racial identity over the 1 year was associated with a decrease in the prevalence of depressive symptoms over the same period, even with self-esteem controlled. It was concluded that racial identity may be as important as self-esteem to the mental health of African American adolescents, and it explains variance in their mental health not associated with feelings of oneself as an individual.

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The effects of changes in racial identity and self-esteem on changes in African American adolescents' mental health

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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