The role of mothers' and adolescents' perceptions of ethnic-racial socialization in shaping ethnic-racial identity among early adolescent boys and girls

J Youth Adolesc. 2009 May;38(5):605-26. doi: 10.1007/s10964-009-9399-7. Epub 2009 Mar 17.

Abstract

The current study examined relationships between adolescents' and mothers' reports of ethnic-racial socialization and adolescents' ethnic-racial identity. The sample included 170 sixth graders (49% boys, 51% girls) and their mothers, all of whom identified as Black, Puerto Rican, Dominican, or Chinese. Two dimensions of ethnic-racial socialization (cultural socialization and preparation for bias) were evaluated alongside three dimensions of ethnic-racial identity (exploration, affirmation and belonging, and behavioral engagement). Mothers' reports of their cultural socialization predicted adolescents' reports, but only adolescents' reports predicted adolescents' ethnic-racial identity processes. Mothers' reports of preparation for bias predicted boys' but not girls' reports of preparation for bias. Again, only adolescents' reports of preparation for bias predicted their ethnic-racial identity. Thus, several gender differences in relationships emerged, with mothers' and adolescents' perceptions of cultural socialization, in particular, playing a more important role in girls' than in boys' identity processes. We discuss the implications of these findings for future research.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Educational Status
  • Ethnicity*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Least-Squares Analysis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mother-Child Relations
  • Mothers*
  • Prejudice
  • Sex Factors
  • Social Identification*
  • Socialization*
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data