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Intersectional Analysis of Perceived Racism as a Determinant of Children's Mental Health

Youth in the United States are experiencing a steep increase in mental health issues. Concurrently, unique political, economic and social dynamics in the U.S. make the circumstances of nonwhite children's mental health partially contingent on experiences of racism. In this study, I examine the relationship between racial minority children's mental health and perceived racism, while also examining the moderating effects of gender on this relationship. I first review prior research which suggest that racism is a salient determinant of several health outcomes among racial minorities and racial minority children, including depression and anxiety. I then review research on both gender and racial socialization and posit possible implications of these differentials on mental health. Considering both the racialized and gendered factors contributing to youth's mental health outcomes, this study fills a gap in previous research by exploring the differences by gender and race in the effect of perceived racism on children's mental health. I use data from the National Survey of Children's Health from 2016 to 2019. Using average marginal effects, calculated from a series of logistic regression models predicting depression, anxiety, behavioral and emotional problems, I find support for previous research which suggests that perceived racism predicts poor mental health among non-white children. I elaborate further by adding the intersection of gender, splitting and comparing the sample across race and gender subgroups. I find considerable variety in the effects of perceived racism across race and gender, such that Latina and Asian girls who experience racism are at heightened risk for being diagnosed with mental health conditions.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc1808435
Date05 1900
CreatorsMonasterio, Ronaldo
ContributorsScarborough, William, Cready, Cynthia M., Sobering, Katherine
PublisherUniversity of North Texas
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formatv, 90 pages : illustrations, Text
CoverageUnited States
RightsPublic, Monasterio, Ronaldo, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights Reserved.

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