Do Coping Responses and Racial Identity Promote School Adjustment Among Black Youth? Applying an Equity-Elaborated Social–Emotional Learning Lens

Abstract

This study examines two equity-elaborated social and emotional learning (SEL) competencies among Black adolescents: coping responses to race-related stress at school (self-management) and racial identity (self-awareness), and their relation to school adjustment (school belonging, school valuing, cognitive strategy use). The sample included 151 Black high school students ( Mage = 16.42; 52% female) from the southeastern United States. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that racial centrality moderated the relationships between active coping and school valuing and active coping and cognitive strategy use. Findings support the value of using an equity-elaborated lens to understand the role of SEL competencies for Black youth’s school adjustment.