Date of Award
1-20-2025
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Amy Bohnert
Second Advisor
Byron Brooks
Abstract
Racial and ethnic identity formation is associated with psychological well-being and this is especially true for youth of color, including Black adolescents. Currently, there is a dearth of literature examining influences on this facet of identity during adolescents, outside of parental socialization and school-related factors. Participation in organized out-of-school activities has been associated with positive outcomes, such as social and emotional well-being, which, in turn, is related to identity formation. The goal of the present study was to better understand the relation between out-of-school experiences and racial and ethnic identity among Black adolescents. Participants included Black identifying adolescents, ages 14-19 (n=181; M age= 16.30 (SD= 1.38; 69% female). More participation in out-of-school experiences (i.e., total, types, and intensity) was significantly associated with higher reported racial and ethnic identity formation. Latent classes analysis of out-of-school experiences revealed that classes characterized by a higher breadth of experiences reported high racial and ethnic identity while the class characterized by low participation in out-of-school experiences reported significantly lower ratings of racial and ethnic identity. These findings suggest that out-of-school experiences are associated with racial and ethnic identity formation among Black youth, but future work is needed to examine the mechanisms that support this dynamic exchange. As racial and ethnic identity formation is associated with well-being, these findings have strengths-based clinical, programmatic, and community implications.
Recommended Citation
Burns, Maureen, "Investigating the role of out-of-school experiences in racial and ethnic identity formation for Black youth within an ecological model" (2025). Master's Theses. 4562.
https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_theses/4562
