Racial Regard and Physical Health Among Low-Income Black Caregivers of Children With and Without Asthma

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between child health, parent racial regard, and parent physical health in 87 African American and Black parents/caregivers of children with and without asthma from a low-income, under-resourced urban area. Participants completed the Private and Public Regard subscales of the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity (MIBI) and 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Parents of children with asthma reported having poorer physical health, while those with higher public and private racial regard reported better physical health. The association between public regard and physical health was surpassed by an interaction of child asthma status and public regard: as public regard decreased, so did physical health, but only for parents raising a child with asthma. Findings suggest that the stresses associated with raising a child with chronic illness and perceiving lower public racial regard may together confer additional risk for poor physical health in African American and Black parents.

Comparing relations of ethnic-racial public regard, centrality, and intergroup contact attitudes among ethno-racially diverse adolescents

The current cross-sectional study examined how adolescents’ appraisal of how positively others viewed their ethnic-racial group (i.e., public regard) and how integral their ethnic-racial background was to their self-concept (i.e., centrality) related to their intergroup contact approach and avoidance attitudes. Participants were Black, Latinx, and White high school students ( N = 2,609; Mage = 16.39, SD = 1.16; 52% female) from the U.S. Southwest and Midwest. Utilizing multigroup structural equation modeling, results indicated that across all ethnic-racial backgrounds, and regardless of geographical context, public regard was positively associated with approach attitudes. Conversely, findings for avoidance attitudes varied by ethnic-racial background. Specifically, public regard was negatively associated with avoidance attitudes for White adolescents, whereas this relation was null for Black and Latinx adolescents. Additionally, although centrality was positively associated with avoidance attitudes among all adolescents, the relation was stronger among White adolescents than among Black and Latinx adolescents.

Racial Identity Profiles Among Suicidal Black Women: A Replication and Extension Study

Despite increasing rates of suicidality among African American women, relatively little is known about culturally-specific factors relevant to their suicidality. Thus, our objectives were to: (1) determine whether previously-identified racial identity profiles replicated in a clinical sample of African American women and (2) examine whether profiles differed on suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and depressive symptoms. In a sample of 198 low-income, African American women ( Mage = 36), latent profile analysis supported a 5-class solution: Undifferentiated (average on all subscales), Detached (lower than the average on most subscales), Afrocentric (low public regard, high nationalism), Multiculturalist (high public regard, private regard, centrality), and Alienated (markedly lower than average on all subscales). Subgroups with higher racial group identification and more positive feelings about being African American endorsed less suicidal ideation and hopelessness than other subgroups. This study characterizes patterns of racial identity among a clinical sample and offers insights into how subgroups of individuals with different combinations of racial identity may be more likely to experience suicidality.

Disrupting the Behavioral Health Consequences of Racial Discrimination: A Longitudinal Investigation of Racial Identity Profiles and Alcohol-Related Problems

Researchers have documented the negative associations between racial discrimination and alcohol use for young Black people, yet fewer researchers have examined these associations longitudinally and with racial identity as a protective factor. We use data from the Flint Adolescent Study (465 Black/African Americans) to investigate the relationship between discrimination and alcohol-related problems over time, and how that relationship differs with varying trajectories of racial identity (i.e., private and public regard). Among those reporting persistently moderate levels of private regard and high levels of public regard in late adolescence through emerging adulthood, increases in racial discrimination were associated with increases in alcohol-related problems over time. Findings suggest that regard for one’s racial group may function protectively in the health strategies employed in response to discriminatory events. More longitudinal research is needed to delineate how varying racial pride operates with regard to long-term discrimination and behavioral health.

Inter-relations between ethnic-racial discrimination and ethnic-racial identity among early adolescents

We examined whether the longitudinal inter-relation between discrimination and identity varies according to the perpetrator of discrimination. We used three waves of data from early adolescents (n = 387; ages 11-12 at Wave 1) to assess the strength and direction of relations between perceived discrimination from adults and peers vis-à-vis ethnic-racial identity exploration, commitment, private regard, and public regard. Cross-lagged autoregressive path analyses showed that more frequent discrimination, regardless of source, had reciprocal and significant longitudinal inter-relations with exploration and public regard. Peer discrimination predicted lower commitment and private regard one year later, whereas adult discrimination did not. We discuss the implications of these findings as they relate to the role of peers and ethnic-racial identity processes during early adolescence.

LGBTQ-Related Individual Differences Predict Emotional Reactions to the Pulse Nightclub Shootings

This study examined, among 232 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) participants, the association of identity centrality and public regard with negative affect about the Pulse nightclub shootings in Orlando, Florida. Identification with victims and perceived threat to personal safety were sequential mediators. Identity centrality was associated with greater identification with the shooting victims. In turn, identification with the victims was associated with greater perceived threat, followed by more negative affect. Low public regard was associated with greater perceived threat that, in turn, was associated with more negative affect. The results support the notion that LGBTQ-related individual differences increase distress about anti-sexual/gender minority hate crimes, especially for individuals with a strong LGBTQ identity and who believe that the majority, heterosexual society devalues sexual/gender minority persons.

“A Word of any Language”

This chapter details events following President Jefferson’s decision to grant a mysterious traveler’s request for an “interview” in October 1807. It was not wholly out of character for Jefferson to agree to meet a man entirely unknown to him; a President of populist ideals, Jefferson was remarkably accessible to the American people. However, principles were surely not the only reason to meet Ira P. Nash. Jefferson’s motivations were likely much more mixed. Self-preservation, not merely public regard, may have seemed at stake. By the beginning of October, Aaron Burr’s treason trial in Richmond had concluded with an acquittal—a judgement that left Jefferson feeling far from settled. The urgency of Nash’s note, and his origins in the “Teritory of Louisanna,” undoubtedly dovetailed with anxieties that plagued the President at the opening of October 1807.

Effects of Perceived Public Regard on the Well-Being of Military Veterans

Many military veterans face considerable challenges reintegrating into civilian life. Evidence suggests the general public holds conflicting attitudes toward veterans. This study examines how perceived public attitudes play a role in veterans’ mental health and well-being. Drawing from and extending interactionist theories of self-concept, stigma, and mental health recovery, we develop and estimate models for the relationships between internalized public attitudes toward veterans (perceived public regard), military identity–related self-worth (private regard), and well-being (depression, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction). Using survey data from the Chicagoland Veterans Study, we found that perceived public regard is negatively related to depression and positively related to self-efficacy and life satisfaction. The relationship between public regard and self-efficacy is fully mediated by private regard, and a significant part of the relationship between perceived public regard and both depression and life satisfaction is mediated by private regard. The study suggests avenues for extending theory and research related to military identity and public understanding of veterans as well as other groups where there may be conflicting public sentiment toward them.

Exploring the Influence of Racial-Ethnic and Gender Identity on the Prosocial Behaviors of African American Adolescent Males

African American male students face a multitude of challenges that may lead to poor academic and social outcomes at school. There is extensive research on the predictors of their problems, but far less on the factors that can lead to positive outcomes. To address this gap, this exploratory study asked two main questions. Does racial-ethnic identity and gender identity predict adolescent African American males’ prosocial behaviors, and if so, is this done jointly or independently? Using regression analysis, this study found racial public regard, gender public regard, and gender private regard positively predicted participants’ prosocial behaviors. In addition, racial public regard moderated the positive relationship between racial centrality and prosocial behaviors as well as the positive relationship between racial private regard and prosocial behaviors. Findings suggest critical conversations concerning race should be included in social-emotional learning initiatives for these students.