Risk and Resilience among Racially/Ethnically Minoritized Youth: The Protective Role of Optimism

• In Event: Children and Youth Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 6: Peer Dynamics, Activism, and Resilience

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and bullying victimization are prevalent risk factors for increased internalizing and externalizing behavior problems among youth. Due to structural inequalities, racially/ethnically minoritized youth generally have more ACEs than their non-minoritized peers. Despite growing up in disadvantaged contexts, many youth demonstrate remarkable resilience, characterized by their typical and even positive adaptation in face of adversities. Strength-based research reveals that malleable internal assets, such as optimism and perseverance, can protect youth against negative outcomes and achieve resilience. Ethnic-racial identity can also serve as an asset in the context of marginalization. Exploring these individual assets among racially/ethnically minoritized youth is particularly important for mitigating the risks and promoting positive youth development. Informed by the risks and resilience framework and the critical race theory, this study investigates risk and protective factors for youth behavior problems by racial/ethnic backgrounds. Using a subsample of 2,848 youth from the Future of Families Child Well-being Survey (FFCWS), we ran independent samples t-tests to compare youth behavior problems and associated risk and protective factors by racial/ethnic backgrounds. We also predicted youth behavior problems using linear regressions with interactions among risk and protective factors. Results showed that racial/ethnically minoritized youth reported more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), perseverance, and optimism than non-minoritized youth, but the same on bullying victimization and behavior problems. ACEs and bullying victimization were risk factors that increased youth behavior problems. Optimism, perseverance, and racial/ethnic minority status were protective factors that decreased youth behavior problems. The protective effect of optimism was stronger for minoritized youth. Findings suggest including risk and resilience factors and identifying distinct strengths in understanding youth behavioral outcomes.

Authors

• Dan Wang, University of Oklahoma

• Alyson Stanosheck, University of Oklahoma