An intersectional approach for understanding perceived discrimination and psychological well-being among African American and Caribbean Black youth.

• DOI: 10.1037/a0019869
• Publication Date: 2010-09-07T20:17:50Z
• Authors: Eleanor K. Seaton; Cleopatra H. Cald...; Robert M. Sellers; James S. Jackson
• Keywords: Cross-Cultural Comparison; Male; Adolescent; Black People; Personal Satisfaction; Social Environment; Discrimination, Psychological; Sex Factors; 5. Gender equality; Adolescent Psychiatry; Humans; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; 10. No inequality; Depression; 4. Education; 05 social sciences; Age Factors; 3. Good health; Black or African American; Caribbean Region; Social Perception; Regression Analysis; Female; Comprehension

The present study examined whether combinations of ethnicity, gender and age moderated the association between perceived discrimination and psychological well-being indicators (depressive symptoms, self-esteem and life satisfaction) in a nationally representative sample of Black youth. The data were from the National Survey of African Life (NSAL), which includes 810 African American and 360 Caribbean Black adolescents. The results indicated main effects such that perceived discrimination was linked to increased depressive symptoms, and decreased self-esteem and life satisfaction. Additionally, there were significant interactions for ethnicity, gender and race. Specifically, older Caribbean Black females exhibited higher depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction in the context of high levels of perceived discrimination compared to older African American males.