Cultural stress and critical consciousness among Latinx adolescents.

Abstract

Objective: To examine how cultural stressors (ethnic-racial discrimination, immigration-related threat, and COVID-19 stress) influence critical reflection, motivation, and action among Latinx adolescents and whether parental preparation for bias moderates these relations. Method: One hundred thirty-five Latinx adolescents (M age = 16, 59.3% female, 85.2% U.S.-born) completed online surveys at two time points, 6 months apart. Results: Immigration-related threat was associated with greater Time 1 (T1) critical reflection (β = .31, p < .05) and Time 2 (T2) critical motivation (β = .24, p < .01). Preparation for bias moderated the relation between immigration-related threat and T1 critical action (β = .18, p < .01). COVID-19 stress was associated with greater T1 critical motivation (β = .24, p < .01) and T2 critical action (β = .18, p = .01). Conclusions: Cultural stressors may alert Latinx youth to systemic injustices in the United States, and combined with parental messages, may empower youth to address inequities. Public Significance StatementCultural stressors (i.e., immigration-related threat and COVID-19 stress) were associated with youths' understanding of broader social inequities, recognition of the importance of addressing social injustice, and actions taken to challenge these inequities. Further, parental conversations about bias were linked to greater youth engagement in action to create social change. This awareness and empowerment may support other positive outcomes like mental well-being and academic flourishing.