The Contribution of Critical Consciousness, Self-efficacy, and Discrimination to the Development of Perseverance in Youth of Color

• In Event: Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: PS 10 Topic -Diversity, Equity & Social Justice

Abstract

Character development research, and research on the character strength perseverance (and its related construct of grit), is limited by its focus on white, high achieving youth in asset-rich environments (e.g., Duckworth & Quinn, 2009) and a recapitulation of the ‘good leads to good’ hypothesis (Heider, 1958). To advance developmental theory, research is urgently needed on youth of color and how both adversity and developmental assets promote the development of character strengths necessary for flourishing.
Youth of color exhibit considerable heterogeneity in their experiences, which likely contributes to different patterns of developmental change in perseverance. Experiences of discrimination present frequent challenges in the lives of minority youth, representing negative social experiences that are likely to impede young people’s potential for positive development. Critical consciousness may be particularly beneficial for the development of perseverance, as understanding structural causes of oppression can lead to awareness of one’s circumstances and the dire need to overcome obstacles through political action (e.g., Diemer et al., 2010). Likewise, as youth develop civic self-efficacy, they become more likely to persist towards goals, resulting in a greater likelihood of success in the social world (Watts et al. 1999). Given the importance of identifying factors that contribute to development of character strengths across time, the aim of the current study is to examine how experiences of discrimination, critical consciousness, and civic self-efficacy contribute to heterogeneity in patterns of change in perseverance across adolescence.
Using a cohort sequential longitudinal design, a diverse sample of youth of color ages 14-19 (n=1896) were assessed at 4 time points, each approximately 1 year apart. The self-reported race/ethnicity was Black (20.8%), Hispanic (64.2%), Asian (11.3%), or other (3.7%). Perseverance, assessed from 9th to 12th grade, was used in growth mixture models to identify different classes of developmental change regarding discrimination, critical consciousness, and civic self-efficacy using the three-step method (Asparouhov & Muthén, 2014) in Mplus.
A three-class model provided the best fit to the data. Class 1 (16% of youth) was labeled Increasing, starting low in perseverance in 9th grade and increased throughout adolescence; Class2 (6%) was labeled Decreasing, and started high in perseverance in 9th grade but declined throughout adolescence, and Class 3 (86%) was labeled Stable, remaining high across adolescence (see Figure 1). Discrimination predicted a greater likelihood of being in both the Decreasing and Stable classes than the Increasing class, whereas civic efficacy predicted a greater likelihood of being in the Stable class than the Increasing class. Critical consciousness did not predict class membership.
The current study advances developmental theory by providing a more comprehensive understanding of age-related change in the ways in which youth of color persist despite obstacles they face. Findings highlight the role of oppression in hindering character development. Civic self-efficacy may be especially important to cultivate in youth of color, given its associations with high, stable levels of perseverance. Continued research identifying factors that both promote and hinder positive development among youth of color is urgently needed.

Authors

• Brigham McKay, Utah Valley University
  Presenting Author

• Jennifer C. Shubert, Utah Valley University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Laura Wray-Lake, University of California - Los Angeles
  Non-Presenting Author

• Amy K. Syvertsen, Search Institute
  Non-Presenting Author