Adolescent Adjustment Problems Mediate the Association Between Racial Discrimination and School Connectedness. (22nd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fernandez, Alejandra; Loukas, Alexandra; Golaszewski, Natalie M.; Batanova, Milena; Pasch, Keryn E.
• Is Part Of: Journal of school health. Volume 89:Number 12(2019)
• Page Start: 945
• Page End: 952
• Publication Date: 2019-10-22
• Subjects: racial discrimination -- depressive symptoms -- conduct problems -- school connectedness -- Hispanics -- Hispanic health; School health services -- Periodicals; School children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; School Health Services -- Periodicals; Health Education -- Periodicals; 371.71
• DOI: 10.1111/josh.12838
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4391

Abstract

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Whereas previous research suggests a positive association between racial discrimination and early adolescent adjustment problems, few studies examine the relationship between discrimination and school connectedness as it relates to adjustment problems among Hispanic early adolescents. In this study, we examined if depressive symptoms and conduct problems would mediate the concurrent association between perceived racial discrimination and school connectedness among Hispanic early adolescents. METHODS: Participants for this study were 192 11‐15‐year‐old (M = 12.1; SD = .95) Hispanic middle school students. Using multigroup path analyses, we examined the indirect association between racial discrimination and school connectedness through adjustment problems, and the equivalence of the associations across girls and boys. RESULTS: Racial discrimination was positively associated with depressive symptoms and conduct problems for both girls and boys. In turn, depressive symptoms were negatively associated with school connectedness for girls only, whereas conduct problems were negatively associated with school connectedness for boys only. CONCLUSIONS: In consideration of study findings, school personnel should be mindful of Hispanic adolescents who display depressive symptoms or conduct problems, as they may be highly vulnerable to lower levels of school connectedness when experiencing racial discrimination.