Critical Consciousness and Wellbeing in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review

Differential item functioning of the revised Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM-R) in racially and income diverse youth with type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Racially minoritized youth with T1D are made vulnerable to disproportionately adverse health outcomes compared to White peers due to enduring systems of oppression. Thus, understanding modifiable psychosocial factors associated with diabetes-related outcomes in racially minoritized youth may help to buffer deleterious effects of racism. One factor meriting exploration is racial-ethnic identity. There is currently limited research on measures fit to assess ethnic identity in youth with chronic illnesses. This study's purpose is to examine the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the revised Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM-R) in a racially- and income-diverse sample of youth with T1D across sociodemographic and illness-related proxies for one's positionality in oppressive systems.

METHOD

As part of a larger study examining resilience, 142 youth with T1D ages 12-18 (Mage = 14.66, SDage = 1.62, 55.6% Black/African-American, 44.4% White) completed the MEIM-R and various psychosocial measures. HbA1c levels and illness duration were extracted from medical records and caregivers reported income information. Confirmatory factor analyses compared the structural validity of competing MEIM-R models, and uniform and non-uniform differential item functioning (DIF) was explored across sociodemographic and illness-related factors.

RESULTS

While a bifactor structure was supported, the MEIM-R was found to exhibit DIF by race and gender on multiple MEIM-R items and did not demonstrate linear bivariate relations with other psychosocial factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Since different MEIM-R item response patterns were observed across racial/ethnic and gender groups, caution is warranted in using this measure in racially and gender diverse youth with T1D.

The mental health benefits and costs of critical consciousness: A longitudinal investigation of the co-occurring positive and negative effects of critical consciousness among sexual minorities

Critical consciousness is a powerful tool for individuals from marginalized groups to transcend their oppressive conditions through engagement in critical reflection, motivation, and action. Nonetheless, the mental health benefits and costs of critical consciousness have received limited research attention. The present study utilized a longitudinal research design to explore the positive and negative relationships between critical consciousness and mental health among sexual minority individuals in different developmental stages. A total of 636 sexual minority individuals were involved in the baseline study and were asked to complete a follow-up questionnaire after one year. The results demonstrated a co-occurrence of positive and negative effects of critical consciousness on mental health among sexual minority individuals across time. On the one hand, critical consciousness was associated with better mental health outcomes through the mediation of internalized oppression and community connectedness. Specifically, critical consciousness was associated with reduced internalized oppression, which in turn was linked to lower levels of emotional distress. Critical consciousness was also associated with heightened levels of community connectedness, which in turn was associated with improved well-being. On the other hand, the results revealed a positive direct effect of critical consciousness on emotional distress, after controlling for internalized oppression and community connectedness. Notably, developmental stage moderated the relationship between critical consciousness and well-being. A negative association between critical consciousness and well-being was observed among sexual minority youth, whereas no such association was found among sexual minority adults. While the study highlights that critical consciousness can be a pedagogical and therapeutic tool for the liberation and empowerment of sexual minority individuals, it is equally important to acknowledge the potential risks associated with critical consciousness. Striking a balance between critical consciousness and self-care is crucial for sustaining meaningful engagement in the pursuit of social change.

Anxious Activists? Examining Immigration Policy Threat, Political Engagement, and Anxiety among College Students with Different Self/Parental Immigration Statuses

Restrictive immigration policies harm the mental health of undocumented immigrants and their U.S. citizen family members. As a sociopolitical stressor, threat to family due to immigration policy can heighten anxiety, yet it is unclear whether political engagement helps immigrant-origin students to cope. We used a cross-sectional survey of college students from immigrant families (N = 2,511) to investigate whether anxiety symptomatology was associated with perceived threat to family and if political engagement moderated this relationship. We stratified analyses by self/parental immigration statuses-undocumented students, U.S. citizens with undocumented parents, and U.S. citizens with lawfully present parents-to examine family members' legal vulnerability. Family threat was significantly associated with anxiety; higher levels of political engagement reduced the strength of this relationship. However, this moderation effect was significant only for U.S. citizens with lawfully present parents. These findings emphasize the importance of the family immigration context in shaping individuals' mental health outcomes.

Azerbaijani adaptation of the WHO-5 wellbeing index: investigating its relationship with psychological distress, resilience, and life satisfaction

BACKGROUND

The WHO-5 Wellbeing Index is a widely used tool for assessing psychological well-being. Despite its global application, its adaptation and validation for the Azerbaijani population had not been previously explored. This study aims to fill this gap by adapting the WHO-5 Wellbeing Index for Azerbaijani adults and examining its relationship with psychological distress, resilience, and life satisfaction.

METHODS

A sample of 875 Azerbaijani adults aged 18 to 89 (mean age = 29.13, SD = 10.98) participated in this study. The adaptation process included confirmatory factor analysis to test the original 5-item structure of the index in the Azerbaijani context. Additionally, item response theory analysis was employed to evaluate the discriminative values of the items. Reliability was assessed through various methods, including Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, and Guttmann's lambda.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original 5-item structure of the WHO-5 Wellbeing Index for the Azerbaijani sample, demonstrating alignment with the index's original version. All items showed acceptable discriminative values in item response theory analysis. The index also exhibited sufficient reliability, as evidenced by Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, and Guttmann's lambda. Correlation and network analyses indicated significant associations of the WHO-5 Wellbeing Index with psychological distress, resilience, and life satisfaction. Specifically, the index was negatively correlated with depression, anxiety, and stress, and positively correlated with resilience and life satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that the WHO-5 Wellbeing Index is a valid and reliable tool for assessing psychological well-being in the Azerbaijani population. Its significant associations with psychological distress, resilience, and life satisfaction further affirm its utility in this cultural context.

Racial Differences in Discrimination, Coping Strategies, and Mental Health Among US Latinx Adolescents During COVID-19

OBJECTIVES

We explored racial differences in discrimination, perceived inequality, coping strategies, and mental health among 869 Latinx adolescents (Mage = 15.08) in the US. We then examined the moderating effects of race and perceived inequality in the associations between discrimination and coping strategies, and between discrimination and mental health.

METHOD

ANOVAs assessed group differences in the study variables based on race. Moderated regression analyses examined whether there was a 2 or 3-way interaction between race, perceived inequality, and discrimination on coping strategies and mental health as separate outcomes.

RESULTS

Black Latinx adolescents reported significantly higher rates of discrimination and perceived inequality than White and Other Race Latinx adolescents. Biracial Latinx adolescents reported higher rates of discrimination and poorer mental health than White Latinx adolescents. There was a significant 2-way interaction between discrimination and perceived inequality for engaged and disengaged coping. Discrimination was positively associated with engaged coping for low levels but not medium and high levels of perceived inequality. Discrimination was positively related to disengaged coping at medium and high levels of perceived inequality but not at low levels of perceived inequality. There was a significant 2-way interaction between discrimination and race for engaged and disengaged coping. Discrimination was negatively related to engaged coping for Black Latinx but not White Latinx adolescents. Discrimination was positively correlated to disengaged coping for Black Latinx but not Other Race Latinx adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

This research provides preliminary evidence of racial group differences among Latinx adolescents regarding various indicators of mental health, which may help inform mental health interventions and federal policy.

Trajectories of sociopolitical stress during the 2020 United States presidential election season: Associations with psychological well-being, civic action, and social identities

Sociopolitical stress arises in reaction to awareness of, exposure to, and/or involvement in political events. Among a longitudinal cohort of 628 college students from 10 universities across the U.S., we explored trajectories of sociopolitical stress during the 2020 United States presidential election season and examined relationships to psychological well-being. Growth mixture modeling classified our sample into four subgroups each with distinct trajectories of sociopolitical stress: High and Decreasing, Moderate and Increasing, Consistently Low, and High-to-Low. Participants with lower levels of sociopolitical stress expressed higher psychological well-being (high flourishing, high optimism, low anxiety symptoms, low depressive symptoms). The High and Decreasing subgroup was associated with the highest levels of civic action. Participants in the High and Decreasing trajectory were 20 times more likely to identify as LGBQ+, and 4 times more likely to be a woman or a transgender/gender diverse student, compared to participants in the Consistently Low subgroup.

Civic engagement and well-being among noncollege young adults: Investigating a mediation model

Young adults may benefit from civic engagement as a health promotion tool, as civic engagement is generally associated with positive well-being. However, more information is needed to examine civic engagement among lesser-educated young adults who are least likely to civically engage, and more likely to demonstrate mental health needs. We surveyed noncollege young adults (N = 621) to measure their civic engagement, meaning, civic efficacy, well-being, and sociodemographic factors. Using an a priori model, direct, indirect, and full effects path analyses were conducted across men and women, and then the entire sample. The full effects model best fit the data with mediation by civic efficacy and meaning (χ2 (2) = 0.59, p = 0.74; comparative fit index = 1.0; root mean square error of approximation = 0.00, 90% confidence interval [0.00-0.06]; R2  = 0.42). Types of engagement (civic, electoral, activism, and online) demonstrated differing relationships with well-being. Stakeholders should resource young adults with civic skills and coping strategies to address the many challenges that civic experiences often elicit.

Gender differences in perceived racism threat and activism during the Black Lives Matter social justice movement for Black young adults

A longitudinal study involving 455 Black young adults living in Canada investigated whether gender and autonomous motivation influenced the relationship between perceived racism threat and Black Lives Matter (BLM) activism, and whether BLM activism influenced life satisfaction over time. A moderated mediation analysis using PROCESS Macro Model 58 tested the indirect effect of autonomous motivation on the relationship between perceived racism threat and BLM activism varying by gender. Multiple linear regression assessed how well BLM activism predicted life satisfaction. Black women perceived greater racism threat than Black men related to increases in BLM activism via the influence of autonomous motivation. BLM activism had a positive influence on life satisfaction over time, regardless of gender. This research suggests Black young women are playing pivotal roles in the BLM movement and helps us understand how motivation may be influencing involvement and well-being in social justice issues.

"Hope for a better tomorrow": Using photovoice to understand how Arab adolescents enact critical consciousness

We explore how Arab adolescents enact critical consciousness to improve their lives and better their community. Eleven first- and second-generation Arab adolescents participated in a Photovoice study and were asked to reflect on and take photos that represented their well-being, daily life, and sense of belonging and community. The participants discussed their photos over multiple group reflection sessions. Thematic analysis highlights how Arab adolescents make positive change in their community, aided by their connections to community, their awareness of structural challenges they and their communities face, and their sense of agency to make positive change. We contribute to the literature by offering a window into the lived experiences of critical consciousness among Arab adolescents, an underrepresented group in the critical consciousness literature. We also add to the growing body of evidence that highlights the importance of "everyday activism" when considering social change actions.

The intersection of neighborhood and race in urban adolescent health risk behaviors

AIMS

Racial variability in associations of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and neighborhood disorder with adolescent health risk behaviors remains under-researched, which this study examined over 1 year among racially diverse adolescents.

METHODS

High school students (N = 345; 18% Asian, 44% Black, 16% Multiracial, 22% White) completed surveys assessing neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and neighborhood disorder, and health risk behaviors (lifetime alcohol, cannabis, and cigarette use, number of sexual partners) at baseline (Year 1) and 1-year follow-up (Year 2).

RESULTS

Asian, Black, and Multiracial adolescents were more likely to endorse health risk behaviors in Year 2 compared to White adolescents living in similarly disadvantaged neighborhoods at Year 1. Associations of neighborhood disorder with health risk behavior did not differ by race.

CONCLUSION

Neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage (but not neighborhood disorder) may predispose Asian, Black, and Multiracial adolescents to health risk behaviors. Findings may inform interventions to address racial disparities in adolescent health risk behaviors.

Who has to act? A qualitative exploration of emerging adults' critical consciousness during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and violence against people of Color during 2020 brought troubling racial inequities to the forefront of American discourse. In line with the Critical Consciousness (CC) and Social Justice Youth Development (SJYD) frameworks, emerging adults may have developed their capacity for critical reflection, motivation, and action against systemic inequities. We drew from interviews with 27 emerging adults (ages 18-23) across the US, and used thematic analysis to explore differences in their reflections, motivations to act, and actions based on their racial/ethnic identification. We found nuanced variability in their critical reflections based on self, social, or global awareness and experiences of marginalization. White and Asian emerging adults used vague language or expressed feeling their reflections were insufficient. Black and Latinx emerging adults emphasized the importance of education and raising awareness. Although all emerging adults took action based on a sense of duty, few engaged in critical action; decisions to take in-person action varied based on whether they viewed racism or COVID-19 as a greater threat. Findings demonstrate that emerging adults' experiences of racialization may have related to their CC development. We share implications for community psychologists conducting antiracist research addressing White fragility and dismantling racial hierarchy.