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Ethnic–racial identity content and the development of depressive symptoms among Latino adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 November 2018

Fernanda L. Cross*
Affiliation:
University of Michigan
Adam J. Hoffman
Affiliation:
University of Michigan
Kevin Constante
Affiliation:
University of Michigan
Deborah Rivas-Drake
Affiliation:
University of Michigan
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Fernanda L. Cross, University of Michigan, 530 Church St., 2010 East Hall, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1043; E-mail: flcross@umich.edu

Abstract

The current study examined the concurrent and prospective associations of ethnic–racial identity content (i.e., centrality, private regard, and public regard) and depressive symptomatology among Latino adolescents. Data were drawn from a longitudinal study of Latino adolescents (N = 148, 53.4% girls) who were 13–14 years old at Wave 1. Results indicated that higher ethnic–racial centrality at Waves 1 and 2 predicted fewer depressive symptoms at Waves 2 and 3, respectively. In addition, more positive private regard at Wave 1 predicted fewer depressive symptoms at Wave 2, and more positive public regard at Wave 2 predicted fewer symptoms at Wave 3. Thus, ethnic–racial identity content may serve as a cultural protective factor that is linked to diminished depressive symptomatology among Latino youth.

Type
Special Issue Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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