Racial socialization and racial identity: African American parents' messages about race as precursors to identity

J Youth Adolesc. 2009 Feb;38(2):189-203. doi: 10.1007/s10964-008-9359-7. Epub 2008 Nov 11.

Abstract

This study uses two waves of data to examine the relationships among patterns of racial socialization experiences and racial identity in a sample of 358 African American adolescents (60% female and 40% male). Using latent class analyses, we identified three patterns of adolescent-reported racial socialization experiences: High Positive, Moderate Positive, and Low Frequency. Adolescent-reported racial socialization experiences at Wave 1 were associated with Wave 2 adolescent racial identity approximately one year later. Specifically, High Positive and Low Frequency racial socialization were associated with racial centrality, assimilationist ideology, and nationalist ideology. These findings suggest that various patterns of racial socialization practices play an important role in the developing significance and meaning that African American adolescents ascribe to race.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Child
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Midwestern United States
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Parenting / ethnology*
  • Psychology, Adolescent
  • Race Relations / psychology*
  • Self Concept*
  • Social Identification*
  • Socialization*