Exploring racial–ethnic pride and perceived barriers in positive youth development: A latent profile analysis

Abstract

This study sought to identify profiles of positive youth development (PYD) integrating racial–ethnic factors, specifically racial–ethnic pride and perceived racial–ethnic barriers in a sample of African American (77%) and Latino (23%) children (N = 234, Mean age = 8). Using a latent profile analysis, we found three profiles: The High PYD, Proud, & Optimistic (High PYD, racial–ethnic pride, and low perceived racial–ethnic barriers), the High PYD, Proud, & Aware (high PYD, pride, and perceived barriers), and the Low PYD and Disconnected (low PYD, pride, and high barriers). The Optimistic profile exhibited fewer overall adjustment problems and higher standardized achievement at Time 2 than both the Aware and the Disconnected profiles. The Aware and the Disconnected showed similar adjustments. This study highlights the critical role of helping youth to feel competent, caring, connected, and proud, which further supports the role of sociocultural factors in the PYD of African American and Latino children.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Wallace Foundation, and the William T. Grant Foundation.