Stress and Coping in an Ethnic Minority Context

Abstract

Because ethnic minority children are disproportionately exposed to stressful life conditions such as family poverty, diminished community resources, and racial discrimination, minority children as a group are assumed to be at increased risk for mental health problems. This assumption derives apparent support from the numerous social problems that are reported to occur to a greater extent within some minority communities: school dropout, teenage parenthood, alcohol and substance use, juvenile delinquency, and youth violence. In fact, however, very little is known about the mental health status of ethnic and racial minority children in the United States, including why some minority children may be at greater risk than others for poor mental health.