Trajectories of Perceived Adult and Peer Discrimination among Black, Latino, and Asian American Adolescents: Patterns and Psychological Correlates

• Published in: Developmental psychology Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 218 - 238
• Main Authors: Greene, Melissa L, Way, Niobe, Pahl, Kerstin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Psychological Association 01.03.2006
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior - psychology; Adolescents; Adult; Adults; African Americans; African Continental Ancestry Group - psychology; Asian Americans; Asian Americans - psychology; Correlation; Depression (Psychology); Ethnicity; Female; High School Students; Hispanic Americans - psychology; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Peer Group; Peer Relationship; Prejudice; Psychological Patterns; Puerto Ricans; Self Esteem; Social Behavior; Social Discrimination; Social Identification; Social Perception; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0012-1649
• DOI: 10.1037/0012-1649.42.2.218

This article presents results from a 3-year longitudinal study of the growth patterns and correlates of perceived discrimination by adults and by peers among Black, Latino, and Asian American high school students. Results revealed a linear increase over time in levels of perceived discrimination by adults, whereas perceptions of discrimination by peers remained stable over time. Asian American and non-Puerto Rican Latino adolescents (primarily Dominican) reported higher levels of peer and/or adult discrimination than did Puerto Rican youth, whereas Black adolescents reported a steeper increase over time in levels of perceived discrimination by peers and by adults than did Puerto Rican adolescents. Peer and adult discrimination was significantly associated with decreased self-esteem and increased depressive symptoms over time. Ethnic identity and ethnicity were found to moderate the relationships between perceived discrimination and changes in psychological well-being over time. Results underscore the need to include perceptions of discrimination when studying the development and well-being of ethnic minority adolescents.