Black Adolescents Research Articles

Attachment perspectives on race, prejudice, and anti-racism

ABSTRACT Central to attachment theory is the idea that behavior in close relationships can best be understood in context. Although decades of research have illuminated cross-cultural patterns of caregiving and attachment, there remains a critical need to increase research with African American families, examine the specific sociocultural context of systemic anti-Black racism, and integrate the rich theory and research of Black scholars. The goal of this special issue is to bring together attachment researchers and scholars studying Black youth and families to leverage and extend attachment-related work to advance anti-racist perspectives in developmental science. The papers in this special issue, highlighted in the introduction, illuminate pathways of risk and resilience in Black children, adolescents, and families and point to the protective power of relationships (and the limits of such protection) for mental and physical health. We highlight critical questions to guide ongoing dialogue and collaboration on this important topic.

Beyond the Binary: Intraracial Diversity in Family Organization and Black Adolescents’ Educational Performance

Abstract Using a nationally representative sample of African American adolescents from the National Survey of American Life Adolescent supplement (NSAL-A), this study examines intraracial diversity in two key dimensions of family organization—family structure and family integration—and assesses their relationship with youths’ educational performance, namely, grades, grade repetition, and number of suspensions. Results show that there is substantial within-group heterogeneity in family organization among African Americans, and that patterns of organization vary systematically by level of household resources, specifically household income. Results also indicate that the relationship between family structure and family integration and Black adolescents’ educational performance differs by resource level. These factors are generally unrelated to the grades, grade repetition, and number of suspensions of adolescents from low-income households, but they are associated with these outcomes for adolescents from the most economically advantaged households. Irrespective of household income, findings demonstrate that the substantive impact of family organization on Black youths’ educational outcomes is small, which suggests that family organization has a more limited relationship with Black Americans’ life chances than previously theorized.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Antecedents of Cyberbullying Victimization in Early Adolescence: An Ecological Systems Framework

This study investigates multiple-level antecedents of cyberbullying victimization among early adolescents. Data from the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children, 2009 to 2010 cohort study in the United States were used. The sample included White, Black, Latino, and Asian adolescents, ages 10–14 ( N = 8481). Bivariate analysis, logistic regression, and subgroup analysis were conducted. Among White adolescents, female sex, older age, and bullying victimization were positively associated with cyberbullying victimization, whereas parental awareness was negatively associated. Among Black adolescents, bullying victimization was positively associated with cyberbullying victimization, but parental employment was negatively associated. Among Latino adolescents, older age was positively related to cyberbullying victimization, whereas “other” family structures were negatively related. Among Asian adolescents, “other” family structure and bullying victimization were positively related to cyberbullying victimization, whereas parental awareness, parental employment, and “quite well off” family socioeconomic status were negatively related. Parental awareness moderated the association between parental employment and cyberbullying victimization.

Health Care Navigation of Black and White Adolescents After Sport-Related Concussion: A Path Toward Health Equity.

Care-seeking behaviors for sport-related concussion (SRC) are not consistent across demographic subgroups. Not only may these differences stem from health inequities, but they can perpetuate disparities in care for SRCs. To determine whether racial differences existed in the care pathway from injury to SRC clinic of adolescent athletes. Retrospective cohort study. Regional SRC center. Of 582 total athletes, 96 (16.5%) Black and 486 (83.5%) White adolescent athletes were diagnosed with SRC and evaluated within 3 months at the SRC clinic. Race was the defined exposure, dichotomized as Black or White. The 4 primary outcomes were (1) location of the first health system contact, (2) time from injury to the first health system contact, (3) time to the in-person SRC clinic visit, and (4) whether the athlete established care (>1 visit), was released immediately to an athletic trainer, or was lost to follow-up. Black and White athletes mostly presented directly to the SRC clinic (61.5% versus 62.3%) at a median (interquartile range) of 3 (1-5) and 4 (1-8) days, respectively (P = .821). Similar proportions of Black and White athletes also first presented to the emergency department (30.2% and 27.2%) at a median of 0 (0-1) versus 0 (0-1) days, respectively (P = .941). Black athletes more frequently had care transferred to their athletic trainer than White athletes (39.6% versus 29.6%) and less frequently established care (56.3% versus 64.0%), respectively; however, these differences were not statistically significant (P = .138). Loss to follow-up was uncommon among Black (4.2%) and White (6.4%) athletes alike. Within an established SRC referral network and multidisciplinary clinic, no racial disparities were observed in how athletes were initially managed or ultimately presented to the SRC clinic despite racial differences in school type and insurance coverage. The SRC center assimilation and affiliation with school systems may be helpful in improving access and providing equitable care across diverse patient demographics.

Black adolescents' perceptions of COVID-19: Challenges, coping, and connection to family, religious, and school support.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic swept the nation by surprise, leaving a deep-seated impact on individuals' social, mental, and physical health. Despite there being disparities between Black and White/non-Hispanic individuals, minimal research has been conducted to explore the effects of the virus on marginalized groups. This study aimed to investigate Black adolescents' perceptions of their experiences with COVID-19, including the challenges they encountered, the coping strategies they employed, and their use of religious/spiritual and school-based support. Twelve Black youth between the ages of 12 and 18 years were interviewed during the early stages of the pandemic (June and July of 2020). Participants struggled with adjusting to the changes in their daily routines, navigating virtual learning, and emerging mental health difficulties (e.g., anxiety). To cope with these challenges, participants relied on emotion and problem-focused coping strategies, including strategies that were religious/spiritual in nature. Participants also relied on social support from family, school personnel, and their religious community, though they lamented about the varied support received from the latter two. Findings from this research support calls for mental health providers to employ culturally affirming mental health services and engage in interagency collaboration to support Black youth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

COVID-19 and Adolescent Depression and Suicide Risk Screening Outcomes.

Mental health concerns increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, but previous studies have not examined depression screening in pediatric primary care. We aimed to describe changes in screening, depressive symptoms, and suicide risk among adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. In a repeat cross-sectional analysis of electronic health record data from a large pediatric primary care network, we compared the percentage of primary care visits where adolescents aged 12 to 21 were screened for depression, screened positive for depressive symptoms, or screened positive for suicide risk between June and December 2019 (prepandemic) and June and December 2020 (pandemic). Changes were examined overall, by month, and by sex, race and ethnicity, insurance type, and income. Modified Poisson regression was used to calculate prevalence ratios (PRs) for the prepandemic to pandemic changes. Depression screening at primary care visits declined from 77.6% to 75.8% during the pandemic period (PR: 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90-1.06). The percentage of adolescents screening positive for depressive symptoms increased from 5.0% to 6.2% (PR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.15-1.34), with greater increases among female, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic white adolescents. Positive suicide risk screens increased from 6.1% to 7.1% (PR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.08-1.26), with a 34% relative increase in reporting recent suicidal thoughts among female adolescents (PR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.18-1.52). Results suggest that depression and suicide concerns have increased during the pandemic, especially among female adolescents. Results underscore the importance of consistent depression and suicidality screening.

Incidence and correlates of high blood pressure from childhood to adulthood: the Birth to Twenty study.

Background:There is growing evidence from high-income countries suggesting that hypertension developed in childhood and adolescence persists into adulthood. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors of high blood pressure (BP) in urban black children.Methods:We used data from the Birth to Twenty (BT20+) cohort in Johannesburg, South Africa constituting of children born in 1990 and who had their growth, development and blood pressure measured at six follow-up periods over the course of 13 years. High BP was classified as at least 95th percentile for age, sex and height. Incidence rate of high BP was calculated using survival analysis and risk factors were determined by use of Cox proportional hazard regression.Results:Over a follow-up period of 13 years, the overall incidence rate of high BP was 57 cases per 1000 person-years (95% CI 53.2–61.1). Risk for incident high BP increased with rapid relative weight gain in early childhood (hazard ratio =1.11, 95% CI 1.00–1.22), mid-childhood (hazard ratio = 1.13, 95% CI 1.03–1.24) and adolescence (hazard ratio = 1.21, 95% CI 0.99–1.47). Maternal parity significantly increased the risk for incident high BP (hazard ratio = 1.08, 95% CI 1.01–1.15).Conclusion:Maternal parity and relative weight gain were determinants for incident high blood pressure in urban black South African children and adolescents. To reduce the high incidence and the disease burden of high BP, national programs should focus on promoting healthy lifestyle in early stages of life to prevent rapid weight gain and later cardiovascular disease risk. Further research is required to investigate whether incident high BP in childhood predict clinical outcomes in adulthood.

An Initial Development and Evaluation of a Culturally Responsive Police Interactions Training for Black Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The purpose of the current study was to conduct a qualitative and experimental analysis of a culturally informed police safety skills training for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study focused primarily on meeting the unique training needs of Black adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A single case design was used to evaluate the initial efficacy and acceptability of a culturally responsive training method. Preliminary evidence about the physiological ramifications of police contact were also collected to begin to examine the broader behavioral and psychophysiological nature of youth's experiences. The current experimental design included in-person simulated contexts that youth, and caregivers, endorsed as relevant to their normal lives, which greatly strengthened the ecological validity of the approach.

The Intersection Between Sex and Race in Understanding Substance Co-Use Patterns in Adolescents From the Fragile Families Study

The current study examined the prevalence of alcohol, cigarette, and cannabis co-use among a longitudinal cohort of youth predominately born to single-parent families. Data were drawn from wave six of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study ( N = 2976; M age = 15.6; 49% female; 53% non-Hispanic Black, 27% Hispanic, 20% White). Adolescents’ reports of their past 30-day use of alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis were used to construct eight mutually exclusive use groups. Multinomial logistic regressions adjusting for sociodemographic factors revealed that Black adolescents were at lower relative risk of using Alcohol Only compared to White adolescents. Black males were at greater relative risk of using Cannabis Only than both White males and Black females. Finally, Hispanic males were at a marginally increased relative risk of co-using Alcohol and Cannabis compared to White males. Prevention efforts targeting Black and Hispanic males’ use of cannabis (both alone and in combination with alcohol) may be beneficial.

Applying an ecosocial framework to address racial disparities in suicide risk among black youth

AbstractSuicide in Black youth is a major public health crisis. Given that racism is a core aspect of the lived experience of Black students in educational settings, efforts to reduce racial disparities in suicide risk must identify and address sources of racism in school contexts and facilitate culturally relevant coping strategies. This article highlights patterns associated with the emergence of risk in Black children and adolescents, applies the Ecosocial Theory of Disease Distribution to conceptualize a strategic approach to reducing racial disparities in suicide, and integrates empirical literature on the relations between racism and suicidality. Extant research findings are applied to conceptualize strategies specifically oriented towards reducing the incidence of suicidal behaviors in Black youth through treatment utilization and engagement strategies for school mental health services, the application of culturally relevant factors within school‐based prevention and treatment programs, culturally relevant risk assessment, and universal prevention using antiracist practices in schools.

Understandings of mental health and support for Black male adolescents living in the UK

Black males within Western society, who navigate recurrent racism and discrimination, have frequently been constructed as “high risk” for mental health difficulties. Research, particularly in the USA, has identified the barriers that Black males face in relation to seeking help, with research outlining the underutilisation of mental health services and overrepresentation of acute mental health diagnoses such as psychosis. Research within the UK has explored barriers to help-seeking amongst males in general, or adult Black males who are within the mental health or prison systems, yet to date little is known about the ways in which Black male adolescent youth outside of formal services understand mental health. Therefore, this paper offers a contribution to knowledge by examining the way in which young Black males in the UK make sense of mental health and associated systems of support. Data from ten interviews with males aged 16–18 from a South London school was collected and analysed using thematic analysis (TA). The young Black males’ understandings of mental health were embedded with notions of masculinity, being in control and strong, and they understood mental health as something that is experienced by other people. Formal support for mental health difficulties was constructed as an unfamiliar and unapproachable system, that is often unkind and discriminatory towards Black males. Speaking to family and friends about mental health difficulties felt more accessible for these young males, however their construct of mental health and constructs within the community provided further silencing on using this support. This study suggests important implications for understanding the experiences of mental health and seeking support amongst Black male adolescents in the UK.

With Liberty and Black Linguistic Justice for All: Pledging Allegiance to Anti‐Racist Language Pedagogy

AbstractThis article makes a case for why Black Language (BL) must be a part of teachers’ conceptualizations of multilingualism in U.S. contexts. BL is a living linguistic legacy, an embodiment of Black culture, and much more than simply a list of distinct grammatical features. For teachers to move toward dispositions and language and literacy pedagogical practices that are inclusive, just, and anti‐racist, they must become aware of and interrogate their real trouble with BL through guided and continuous critical, introspective, and reflexivity. After providing a brief linguistic understanding of BL, the author describes what happens when Black adolescents and adults discover that their language has a name, a rich history, and global influence‐‐it marks the onset of their Black Linguistic Consciousness‐raising (Baker‐Bell, 2020). The article ends with recommendations and resources for how teachers can start and continue to stand for anti‐racist linguistic justice in the classroom contexts and beyond.

Suicidal ideations and Attempts Within the Family Context: The Role of Parent Support, Bonding, and Peer Experiences with Suicidal Behaviors.

The rate of suicidality is increasing faster in Black American youth than in any other group in the USA. Researchers have found that family-level factors are important environmental factors for predicting depression and anxiety among Black youth, but less is known about how family- and friendship-level factors are associated with suicidal ideation and attempts among Black youth. This secondary analysis used the data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescents to Adult Health with a sample of Black adolescents (N = 4232) with a mean age of 16 years. The predictors included parental and other contextual factors on the outcome, which was suicidal behaviors. A multinomial analysis was employed to assess which factors contributed to or prevented suicidal behaviors. Our results indicated that parental support was significantly and positively associated with reporting suicidal ideation and attempts. The results indicated that Black youth with a decrease in parental support were 41% more likely to report ideation and 68% more likely to report attempting suicide compared to those reporting no parental support. Findings from our study support the assertion that the influence from the familial microsystem is pronounced in modifying suicidal behavior of Black youth.

Experience Is Not Enough: Self-Identified Training Needs of Police Working with Adolescents

Abstract Police receive extensive training due to the complexity and challenges of their work. Surprisingly, most police officers receive minimal training on how to understand and interact with adolescents. The current study included data from 1,030 law enforcement officers from 24 police departments evaluating perceived readiness to interact and work with adolescents in the community. We examined overall training needs, and then tested how experience in law enforcement and position or rank impacted self-identified training needs. Rank was associated with police officer perceptions of adolescents and related training needs. Compared with patrol officers, school resource officers indicated that they believed they had the skills needed to effectively work with adolescents [P = 0.001, odds ration (OR) = 2.5]. Beat or area patrol officers were significantly less likely than school resource officers to report feeling equipped to work with adolescents who have experienced trauma compared with new recruits (P < 0.001, OR = 0.3) and other non-patrol police officers (P = 0.001, OR = 0.6). School resource officers were significantly more likely to view adolescents as positive assets to the community (P = 0.003, OR = 2.8), and were significantly less likely to understand why Black adolescents or other adolescents of colour might mistrust police compared with both new recruits (P < 0.001, OR = 0.2) and patrol officers (P < 0.001, OR = 0.5). Overarching training needs are illuminated by these unique data.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Mind-Body Approaches Used Among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Adolescents

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to examine complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among racially and ethnically diverse adolescents. Greater understanding of CAM use among this group is warranted to better inform health care providers in delivering a culturally relevant health promotion approach. Design and methodsA secondary data analysis was conducted using the 2012 Child Complementary and Alternative Medicine Supplement of the National Health Interview Survey (CAM-NHIS) data, which was collected from a national sample of adolescents aged 12–17 years. A logistic regression test was employed to investigate the predictors associated with CAM use among racially and ethnically diverse adolescents. ResultsWhile Black and Hispanic adolescents were the least likely to use CAM compared to their White counterparts, families with higher incomes, higher education attainment, and adolescents who experienced pain were more likely to use CAM. ConclusionsFindings suggest the need for future research to gain a greater understanding of CAM use among racially and ethnically diverse adolescents, and insights into how health disparities impact CAM use. Greater understanding of how CAM use intersects with health beliefs and outcomes is also warranted. Practice implicationsBased on the CAM-NHIS survey, few racially and ethnically diverse adolescents have reported use of CAM. Development of culturally appropriate instruments and methods to assess CAM use among racially and ethnically diverse adolescents may yield specific data for this population. Informed health care providers can advocate for improved access to CAM for minority adolescents and alter disparate use.

Vaping Disparities at the Intersection of Gender Identity and Race/Ethnicity in a Population-Based Sample of Adolescents.

Transgender adolescents use vape products (eg, e-cigarettes) at higher rates than cisgender adolescents. Little is known about how these disparities differ from the intersectional perspective of both gender identity and race/ethnicity. We examined disparities in past 30-day vaping frequency at the intersection of gender identity and race/ethnicity among adolescents participating in two pooled waves of the population-based California Healthy Kids Survey (N = 953 445; 2017-2019). Generalized linear mixed models included gender identity-by-race/ethnicity interactions and adjusted for potential confounders. Stratified models quantified relationships between gender identity and vaping within race/ethnicity strata and between race/ethnicity and vaping within gender identity strata. Transgender adolescents of color were more likely to report a higher frequency of vaping than cisgender white adolescents. In models stratified by race/ethnicity, transgender adolescents evidenced greater odds of more frequent vaping than cisgender adolescents of the same race/ethnicity; disparities were greatest between transgender and cisgender Black adolescents (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 6.05, 95% CI: 4.76-7.68) and smallest between transgender and cisgender white adolescents (AOR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.06-1.35). In models stratified by gender identity, disparities were greatest between transgender Black and transgender white adolescents (AOR: 2.85, 95% CI: 2.20-3.70) and smallest between transgender multiracial and transgender white adolescents (AOR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.05-1.58). Similar, though less consistent, patterns emerged for adolescents of color unsure of their gender identity relative to cisgender white adolescents. Transgender adolescents of color may be especially vulnerable to vaping disparities. Future research should identify and intervene on causal mechanisms undergirding disparities. Research finds that transgender adolescents use vape products at higher rates than their cisgender peers, however, little is known about how patterns of adolescent vaping may differ by both gender identity and race/ethnicity, information needed to inform culturally tailored prevention and control initiatives to decrease adolescent vaping disparities. Our analysis of data from a population-based adolescent health survey finds evidence of magnified disparities in vaping frequency among transgender adolescents of color.

Disproportionate Minority Contact: An Expanded Examination of how Threat of Violent and Sexual Offending Impacts Court Outcomes

Racial disparities in the U.S. juvenile justice system appear to be attenuated for people with sexual and violent versus drug and property offenses. Existing theories such as the racial threat hypothesis partially explain these racial disparities, but the definition of “threat” could limit our ability to explain juvenile justice outcomes across offense categories. Importantly, research often overlooks the different and unique threats associated with violent and sexual crimes. The present study examined impacts of racial threat and an expanded definition of “threat” associated with violent and sexual crime on (a) preadjudication detention and (b) dispositions of postadjudication confinement. Statewide archival court data were obtained regarding 212,274 male and female adolescents. In the full models, less severe violent (assault vs. homicide) and sexual offenses (indecent exposure and child pornography vs. sexual abuse) were associated with lower use of detention and secure confinement. This impact of specific violent and sexual offenses on court outcomes were observed in models run with Black adolescents and models separated by violent offenses and sexual offenses. Higher rates of county-level homicide prosecutions and White-to-Black unemployment were significantly and positively associated with detention and confinement, respectively. Racial threat and other theories aiming to explain racial disparities should be reexamined and modified to include markers of violent and sexual offense stigma and threat. Further, models testing racial disparities should include an expanded definition of “threat” in selecting indicators. Our suggested modified theory could better elucidate racial disparities in the juvenile justice system and presents important practice implications.

Developmental Assets, Defiance, and Caregiver Communication among Black Adolescents with High Body Weights

Developmental Assets, Defiance, and Caregiver Communication among Black Adolescents with High Body Weights

Commentary: Toward Race-Conscious Research: Acknowledging Structural Racism and Its Effect on the Recruitment of Black Adolescents and Caregivers in Clinical Trials.

Commentary: Toward Race-Conscious Research: Acknowledging Structural Racism and Its Effect on the Recruitment of Black Adolescents and Caregivers in Clinical Trials.

Bibliometric Analysis of Suicide Research Among Black Youth

Historically, Black youth have had lower rates of suicide attempts in comparison to their peers; however, in recent years this rate has changed, with self-reported suicide attempts for Black adolescents rising by 73%. The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of research on Black youth and suicide using bibliometric techniques. To conduct our analysis, we developed a search strategy utilizing the Scopus database for the time period from 1980 to 2020. Results indicated an increasing trend in the number of articles published each year related to Black youth and suicide. The most highly productive journals were the Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, Pediatrics, and Journal of Youth and Adolescence. Authors who frequently published in this area include Nadine Kaslow, Rheeda Walker, and Sean Joe. While this research area is growing, there is a lack of published articles focused on interventions for suicide prevention and non-comparative race specific research focused on Black youth.