Navigating the Intersections of Ethnic-Racial and Socioeconomic Identities: Discrimination, Identity, and Well-Being Among Black and Latinx College Students

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 8:00 am Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Navigating Institutional Structures and Transfer Pathways (Table 2)

Abstract

Two studies examined how SES and ethnic-racial identity (ERI) affect well-being and status uncertainty among Black and Latinx students at a predominantly white institution. Study 1 found that students with lower SES and lower ERI affirmation reported worse well-being and greater status uncertainty when facing discrimination. Conversely, those with higher ERI affirmation exhibited more symptoms of depression, and those with higher SES experienced more anxiety. Study 2 experimentally manipulated SES and ERI perceptions, finding that consistent positive cues about ERI and SES reduced status uncertainty, especially for lower SES individuals. However, conflicting cues had a more significant impact on well-being. These studies highlight differences in how Black and Latinx students with varying SES and ERI perceive and respond to discrimination.

Authors

• Rebecca Ann Lawrence, Northwestern University

• Mesmin Destin, Northwestern University