Relationships of Ethnicity, Ethnic Identity, and Trauma Symptoms to Delinquency

Abstract

Previous research has found that delinquency is related to higher levels of trauma symptoms and poorer ethnic identity. The present study used a California Bay Area school-based sample of 307 adolescents to examine whether the relationship of trauma symptoms to delinquency is buffered by higher ethnic identity and whether this buffering effect is relatively more important for ethnic minorities than it is for Caucasians. In a hierarchical regression analysis, trauma symptoms, ethnicity, and ethnic identity statistically interacted to predict delinquency, such that greater levels of ethnic identity were related to less delinquency in the face of increasing levels of trauma symptoms; this effect was especially important for ethnic minorities relative to Caucasians. Findings of the current study suggest that ethnic identity may be an important resource among diverse ethnic groups.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Melanie Clemons for her assistance with data collection and entry.

Notes

Note. YSR = Youth Self-Report; LASC = Los Angeles Symptom Checklist; MEIM = Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure.

*p < .05; **p < .01.

Note. YSR = Youth Self-Report; LASC = Los Angeles Symptom Checklist; MEIM = Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure. Ethnicity was coded − 1 = Caucasian, 1 = minority. R ² = .33 for Step 1 (p < .001); R ² = .01 for Step 2 (ns); R ² = .01 for Step 3 (ps < .05).

*p < .05; **p < .01.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elizabeth Bruce

Elizabeth J. Bruce, Ph.D., completed her doctorate at Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, where she participated in research and clinical work. Her interests include prevention interventions for emotional and behavioral problems among young people.

Lynn C. Waelde

Lynn C. Waelde, Ph.D., is a professor at the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology and a consulting associate professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Her research and clinical interests concern ethnicity, stress disorders, and clinical applications of meditation.