To Be Black, Caribbean, and American: Social Connectedness As a Mediator to Racial and Ethnic Socialization and Well-Being Among Afro-Caribbean American Emerging Adults

Racial and ethnic socialization are integral to the functioning and parenting process in ethnic minorities’ families (Brown & Krishnakumar, 2007; Hughes, Rodriguez, Smith, Johnson, Stevenson, & Spicer, 2006). Unfortunately, there is no scholarly consensus with respect to definitions and operations for racial and ethnic socialization which then evidences several conceptual and methodological shortcomings in racial and ethnic socialization research (Brown, 2004). Furthermore, very little empirical research has used these findings in relation to the socialization processes of first- and second-generation Afro-Caribbean emerging adults. The purpose of this study was to test the roles of both racial socialization and ethnic socialization in promoting social connectedness (i.e., mainstream, racial community, ethnic community) and the relationship of social connectedness (i.e., mainstream, racial community, ethnic community) and subjective well-being of 307 Afro-Caribbean emerging adults. This research study tested an exploratory model that examined the potential mediating effects of social connectedness (i.e., mainstream, racial community, ethnic community) between racial and ethnic socialization and the outcome subjective well-being among first- and second-generation Afro-Caribbean emerging adult immigrants. Path analysis results revealed that the partially mediated for racial socialization, but fully mediated for ethnic socialization model resulted in being the best fitting model. The indirect effects of ethnic socialization on subjective well-being through social connectedness in mainstream society and ethnic community were statistically significant and also the indirect effect of racial socialization on subjective well-being through social connectedness in mainstream society was statistically significant. Research and practical implications for researchers, clinicians, and preventionists are considered, limitations and future directions for research are discussed

‘Ballroom itself can either make you or break you’ – Black GBT Youths’ psychosocial development in the House Ball Community

Social context plays a significant role in adolescent identity development, particularly for youth lacking traditional systems of support. Using ecological and symbolic interactionism perspectives, this study qualitatively explored the psychosocial identity development of Black gay, bisexual, or transgendered youth participating in the House Ball Community (HBC). The HBC is a diverse network of family-like structures called ‘houses’, as well as a glamorous social outlet via pageant-like ‘balls’ in which participants compete. A series of focus groups were conducted with youth and leaders from the HBC (n = 37; age range = 17–24). Via cross-case and comparative analyses, specific motivating factors related to entry into and continued involvement in the community were identified. Factors related to entry into the community included lack of safe spaces, opportunities for acceptance, means of subsistence, and allure of the scene. Factors related to continued involvement included resilience and coping skills development, sexual identity acceptance and pride, prevalence of risky behaviour, and risk of exploitation. Discussion of these factors provides insight on how self-constructed, supplementary social contexts may provide both unique supports and risks to members, allowing for more focused and well-informed interventions and policies to enhance healthy development in such communities while mitigating risk

Assessing Critical Consciousness in Youth and Young Adults

The purpose of this study is to develop a scale to assess critical consciousness to be used as an assessment tool for assessing critical consciousness levels of individuals: first for prevention work, including programs that foster multicultural awareness and sensitivity, rites of passages, or racial socialization programs; and second for clinical work. The Critical Consciousness Inventory (CCI) is a nine-item scale using a Guttman model of scaling. Two hundred participants of varying ethnic/racial backgrounds completed the scale. Psychometric properties of the scale are included. The scale differentiates individuals at diverse levels of critical consciousness development. The CCI is related to social dominance and stigma consciousness