Racial Socialization and Ethnic Identity: Do They Offer Protection Against Problem Behaviors for African American Youth?

The current study explores the influence of racial socialization and ethnic identity on problem behaviors. Racial socialization and racial identity are emerging, albeit atheoretical, constructs that may buffer risk factors related to problem behavior (including violence and delinquency) among African American youth. This research proposes that racial socialization and racial identity should be integrated into current theoretical models of child and adolescent development. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is used to explore the influence of these constructs on both risk and protective factors in a sample of African American children and adolescents. Implications for social work research and practice are also discussed. (C) 2007 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.