ERIC Number: EJ1051143
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Apr
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0012-1649
EISSN: N/A
Longitudinal Associations between Experienced Racial Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms in African American Adolescents
English, Devin; Lambert, Sharon F.; Ialongo, Nicholas S.
Developmental Psychology, v50 n4 p1190-1196 Apr 2014
While recent evidence has indicated that experienced racial discrimination is associated with increased depressive symptoms for African American adolescents, most studies rely on cross-sectional and short-term longitudinal research designs. As a result, the direction and persistence of this association across time remains unclear. This article examines longitudinal associations between experienced racial discrimination and depressive symptoms among a community sample of African American adolescents (N = 504) from Grade 7 to Grade 10, while controlling for multiple alternative causal pathways. Sex was tested as a moderator of the link between experienced racial discrimination and later depressive symptoms. Structural equation modeling revealed that experienced racial discrimination was positively associated with depressive symptoms 1 year later across all waves of measurement. The link between experienced racial discrimination at Grade 7 and depressive symptoms at Grade 8 was stronger for females than males. Findings highlight the role of experienced racial discrimination in the etiology of depressive symptoms for African Americans across early adolescence.
Descriptors: Racial Discrimination, African Americans, Adolescents, Correlation, Depression (Psychology), Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Gender Differences, Structural Equation Models, Hypothesis Testing, Interviews, Predictor Variables
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 7; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Elementary Education; Secondary Education; Grade 8; Grade 9; High Schools; Grade 10
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute of Mental Health (DHHS/NIH); National Institute on Drug Abuse (DHHS/PHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Maryland
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Childrens Depression Inventory
Grant or Contract Numbers: MH057005; MH078995; DA11796