Parental ethnic–racial socialization practices and the construction of children of color’s ethnic–racial identity: A research synthesis and meta-analysis.

Abstract

Despite increasing empirical research documenting the association between parental ethnic-racial socialization and youth of color's psychosocial well-being, evidence on the extent to which ethnic-racial socialization practices are linked to youth outcomes and potential variation in these relations remains equivocal. In the current study, a meta-analysis of 102 studies with 803 effect sizes and 27,221 participants reveals that overall ethnic-racial socialization was positively, albeit modestly, associated with self-perceptions, interpersonal relationship quality, and internalizing behavior. Ethnic-racial socialization's overall association with externalizing behavior was nonsignificant. Moreover, ethnic-racial socialization's connection to psychosocial outcomes varied by the subtype that parents used, the developmental stage and race/ethnicity of the target child, and the reporter of ethnic-racial socialization. In particular, cultural socialization was positively associated with self-perceptions and interpersonal relationship quality, and negatively associated with externalizing behaviors. In addition, ethnic-racial socialization's positive association with self-perceptions was strongest in early adolescence and among African American youth. These findings underscore the complexity of parental ethnic-racial socialization practices and the need for a nuanced perspective on it. Implications for parenting practices and future research are discussed.

Inherently Political? Associations of Parent Ethnic–Racial Socialization and Sociopolitical Discussions with Latinx Youths’ Emergent Civic Engagement

“…Parental ERS practices are instrumental in shaping adolescents’ ethnic–racial identity, with many studies showing consistent links between ERS practices and ERI developmental processes (Hughes et al, 2006; Huguley et al, 2019). For example, Latinx late adolescents who received more family cultural socialization were more likely to engage in exploration and feel more resolved about their ERI (Douglas & Umaña‐Taylor, 2015).…”

“…To better understand the mechanisms by which youth process messages about race and ethnicity to inform their own ethnic–racial identity, we employ PVEST (Spencer, 2007), which theorizes that during adolescence, youths’ identities and beliefs about themselves are constructed by the messages they receive about their group membership and place in society. Messages about ethnicity and race are most often transmitted from the family in the form of parental ERS (e.g., Huguley, Wang, Vasquez, & Guo, 2019). Accordingly, we argue that Latinx parents may embed sociopolitical messages within their ERS practices to promote exploration and a better understanding of ethnic–racial group membership and, by doing so, contribute to their youth’s emergent sociopolitical development (e.g., civic engagement; see also Mathews et al, 2019).…”

“…ERS encompasses a set of protective and adaptive practices (e.g., transmitting cultural values, preparing youth to cope with discrimination, and instilling strong family and ethnic connections) employed by parents of color to promote their children’s positive development (Derlan, Umaña‐Taylor, Updegraff, & Jahromi, 2017). In recent years, researchers have aimed to better understand how parents of color share their heritage and cultural history with their children, as well as prepare them for experiences of social injustice and how to respond to them (Hughes et al, 2006; Huguley et al, 2019). This process is shared through both verbal and nonverbal parental teachings that influence their children’s development as they learn about their roots and form a better understanding of their ethnic–racial group vis‐à‐vis mainstream culture (Umaña‐Taylor, Alfaro, Bámaca, & Guimond, 2009).…”

Ethnic–Racial Socialization in the Family: A Decade's Advance on Precursors and Outcomes

“…Thus, we entered the decade with some optimism about racial progress, but we are ending the decade with a more somber understanding of the realities of significant and persistent ethnic–racial inequities that threaten our nation's ability to support the development of a productive citizen base and maintain its globally competitive edge. Families, however, play a significant role in reducing the negative effects of ethnic–racial inequities by socializing their youth to better understand their race, ethnicity, and culture and, in effect, develop a strong sense of identity (Huguley, Wang, Guo, & Vasquez, ). Indeed, families' ethnic–racial socialization efforts are essential for young people's resilience in the face of ethnic–racial conflict (e.g., Wang & Huguley, ) and, thus, for our society to make any racial progress.…”

Re-Imagining Child and Youth Care Practice With African Canadian Youth

“…These patterns of intrusion into Black communities are caused by the intersections of race, class, and historic and contemporary anti-Black oppressive practices. Racism, discrimination, and oppression have negative impacts on children's emotional and psychological development, self-esteem, and sense of personal efficacy (Huguley et al, 2019), and their ability to trust adults and to self-regulate (Bath, 2008). Trent and colleagues (2019) cited the World Health Organization's statement that social determinants of health are shaped by economic, political, and social factors; inequality among these factors, if unaddressed, leads to health inequities.…”