Internet Use, Online Racial Discrimination, and Adjustment Among a Diverse, School-Based Sample of Adolescents

• In Event: Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: Social and Emotional Learning Impact: Dealing With Diverse or Challenging Circumstances

Abstract

Given the increase in online hate activity and the increased amount of time youth of color spend with media, more research is needed on their experiences with racial discrimination via the internet, mental health and behavior. Therefore, this study examined whether time online, offline and online discrimination are associated with depressive symptoms, anxiety and rule breaking among a diverse sample of adolescents. Results revealed that both discrimination offline as well as online were significantly associated with depressive symptoms and rule-breaking. For anxiety, the only significant main effect was discrimination online. This study highlights a need for clinicians and researchers to attend to experiences of racial discrimination online and the time youth spend in contexts where they might have these experiences.

Authors

• Brendesha M. Tynes, University of Southern California

• Chad Allen Rose, University of Missouri - Columbia

• Nicole Coleman, University of Southern California - Rossier School of Education

• Kimberly J Mitchell, University of New Hampshire

• Adriana J. Umana-Taylor, Arizona State University

• David R Williams, Harvard University