2069.0 - Racial Self-Efficacy, Ethnic Identity, and the Link Between Neighborhood Violence and Internalizing Symptoms in Black and Latinx Youth

Program: Epidemiology

Session: Epidemiology Section: Neighborhood Context and its Impact on Health - Epidemiologic Perspectives

Authors: Sitara Weerakoon, Gina Sissoko, Joy Lindsay, Ijeoma Opara

Presenters: Nimisha Srikanth

See all authors and presenters →

Abstract

Objective

Black and Latinx youth face disproportionate mental health burdens which can be impacted by racial and cultural identity, yet research on how racial-ethnic identity factors shape responses to structural mental health stressors like neighborhood violence remains limited. This study examines the direct effect of perceived neighborhood violence on anxiety symptoms, the indirect effect of racial self-efficacy, and the role of ethnic identity exploration.

Method

Data collection for this study was conducted as part of a larger intervention development study based in a diverse urban Northeastern U.S. city characterized by its socioeconomic challenges and a high concentration of youth from under-resourced communities. Our final sample included 621 Black and Latinx youth (mean age=15.5 years, SD=1.7), 36% Black and 64% Latinx; 53.4% males and 46.6% females. We used cross-sectional structural equation modeling (SEM) to assess direct and indirect effects.

Results

Neighborhood violence was associated with lower racial self-efficacy (β=-0.22, p<0.001), and higher racial self-efficacy was linked to fewer anxiety symptoms (β=-0.14, p<0.001). Contrary to our hypothesis, ethnic identity exploration was associated with lower racial self-efficacy (β=-0.10, p<0.05) and showed no direct association with anxiety symptoms (β=-0.04, p>0.05). Differences were revealed when stratifying Black and Latinx youth.

Conclusion

Racial self-efficacy may buffer the negative effects of neighborhood violence on anxiety, while ethnic identity exploration may not confer the expected protective effects. These findings highlight the complex interplay between racial identity processes and mental health, underscoring the need for interventions that strengthen racial self-efficacy among Black and Latinx youth.