Experiences of Discrimination and Prejudice Among American Indian Youth: Links to Psychosocial Functioning

Abstract

Native Americans continue to experience significant minority stress, including the effects of historical trauma, discrimination, prejudice, and racial battle fatigue. Media portrayal of Native Americans, including those in the film industry, news outlets, and sports mascots, serves to maintain negative stereotypes and prejudices about Indigenous peoples. These stereotypical portrayals of Native Americans impact the psychological functioning of Native youth, as well as attitudes and behaviors of European Americans toward Native Americans. For example, after viewing Native-themed mascots, European American students reported higher levels of self-esteem, while Native American students reported lower levels of self-esteem, community worth, and anticipated future personal achievements (Fryberg et al. Basic Appl Soc Psychol 30(3):208–218, 2008). Recent findings suggest that Native youth experience disproportionately higher instances of victimization and bullying in public schools relative to students from other racial/ethnic groups, which likely contributes to higher school dropout rates among Native youth (Campbell and Smalling, J Indigenous Soc Dev 2(1):1–15, 2013). Experiences of prejudice and discrimination have been linked with increased feelings of powerlessness, psychological distress, suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, substance use, decreased self-esteem and life satisfaction, and poor physical health and high blood pressure (Schmitt et al. Psychol Bull 140(4):921–948, 2014; Nadal et al. J Coll Stud Dev 55(5):461–474, 2014; Chen et al. J Am Coll Health 62(6):390–398, 2014; Blume et al. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol 18(1):45–54, 2012; Hwang and Goto Asian Am J Psychol S(1):15–28, 2009; Walters et al. Public Health Rep 117(Suppl 1):S104, 2002). However, a growing body of literature recognizes the resiliency and strength exhibited by Native youth and families in the face of historical and ongoing inequity and discrimination. This chapter addresses both risk and resilience in the lives of Native youth.