Do dimensions of ethnic identity mediate the association between perceived ethnic group discrimination and depressive symptoms?

Ethnic group discrimination represents a notable risk factor that may contribute to mental health problems among ethnic minority college students. However, cultural resources (e.g., ethnic identity) may promote psychological adjustment in the context of group-based discriminatory experiences. In the current study, we examined the associations between perceptions of ethnic group discrimination and depressive symptoms, and explored dimensions of ethnic identity (i.e., exploration, resolution, and affirmation) as mediators of this process among 2,315 ethnic minority college students (age 18 to 30 years; 37% Black, 63% Latino). Results indicated that perceived ethnic group discrimination was associated positively with depressive symptoms among students from both ethnic groups. The relationship between perceived ethnic group discrimination and depressive symptoms was mediated by ethnic identity affirmation for Latino students, but not for Black students. Ethnic identity resolution was negatively and indirectly associated with depressive symptoms through ethnic identity affirmation for both Black and Latino students. Implications for promoting ethnic minority college students' mental health and directions for future research are discussed.

Maturing out of alcohol involvement: transitions in latent drinking statuses from late adolescence to adulthood.

Research has shown a developmental process of "maturing out" of alcohol involvement beginning in young adulthood, but the precise nature of changes characterizing maturing out is unclear. We used latent transition analysis to investigate these changes in a high-risk sample from a longitudinal study of familial alcoholism (N = 844; 51% children of alcoholics; 53% male, 71% non-Hispanic Caucasian, 27% Hispanic). Analyses classified participants into latent drinking statuses during late adolescence (ages 17-22), young adulthood (ages 23-28), and adulthood (ages 29-40), and characterized transitions among these statuses over time. The resulting four statuses were abstainers, low-risk drinkers who typically drank less than weekly and rarely binged or showed drinking problems, moderate-risk drinkers who typically binged less than weekly and showed moderate risk for drinking problems, and high-risk drinkers who typically binged at least weekly and showed high risk for drinking problems. Maturing out between late adolescence and young adulthood was most common among initial high-risk drinkers, but they typically declined to moderate-risk drinking rather than to nonrisky drinking statuses. This suggests that the developmental phenomenon of maturing out pertains primarily to relatively high-risk initial drinkers and that many high-risk drinkers who mature out merely reduce rather than eliminate their risky drinking.

Pre-sleep arousal and sleep problems of anxiety-disordered youth.

The current study examined sleep problems and pre-sleep arousal among 52 anxious children and adolescents, aged 7-14 years, in relation to age, sex, ethnicity, and primary anxiety disorder. Assessment included structured diagnostic interviews and parent and child completed measures of sleep problems and pre-sleep arousal. Overall, 85% of parents reported clinically-significant child sleep problems, whereas 54% of youth reported trouble sleeping. Young children, those with primary generalized anxiety disorder, and Latino youth experienced the greatest levels of sleep disturbance. Additionally, greater levels of pre-sleep cognitive rather than somatic arousal were found and pre-sleep thoughts were associated with decreased total sleep duration and greater sleep problems. Findings suggest that attention to sleep should be part of assessment procedures for anxious children in both research and clinical settings.

Social support, discrimination, and coping as predictors of posttraumatic stress reactions in youth survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

This study examined the influence of aspects of the post-Hurricane Katrina recovery environment (i.e., discrimination, social support) and coping behaviors on children's posttraumatic stress reactions (symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], anxiety, and depression). Data corresponding to 46 youth (M = 11.43 years; 39% girls; 33% African American, 67% European American) revealed that greater helpfulness from extrafamilial sources of social support predicted lower levels of child-rated symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. A positive predictive relation was found between helpfulness from professional support sources and PTSD, perhaps suggesting that parents whose children were experiencing higher PTSD symptom levels sought professional support and reported it to be helpful. Youths' avoidant coping behaviors predicted both PTSD and anxiety symptoms. Discrimination, active coping, and familial support did not predict any of the posttraumatic stress reactions assessed in this study.

Indicated prevention and early intervention for childhood anxiety: a randomized trial with Caucasian and Hispanic/Latino youth.

OBJECTIVE: This trial of a randomized indicated anxiety prevention and early intervention explored initial program effects as well as the role of ethnicity and language on measured outcomes. METHOD: A total of 88 youth (M = 10.36 years; 45 girls, 52 Latino) received 1 of 2 protocols with varying degrees of parent involvement, and response was measured at posttest and 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Findings showed that child anxiety symptoms improved significantly across protocols, although additional gains were found for children in the child plus parent condition. Program effects did not vary by Latino ethnicity or Spanish language use in the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The cognitive and behavioral strategies established for Caucasian children may be promising for Hispanic/Latino children when applied in a culturally responsive manner.

Mediators and moderators of outcome in the behavioral treatment of childhood social phobia.

OBJECTIVE: The current study examined mediators and moderators of treatment response among children and adolescents (ages 7-17 years) with a primary diagnosis of social phobia. METHOD: Participants were 88 youths participating in one of two randomized controlled treatment trials of Social Effectiveness Therapy for Children. Potential mediators included changes in observer-rated social skill and child-reported loneliness after 12 weeks of Social Effectiveness Therapy for Children. Age and depressive symptoms were examined as potential moderators. RESULTS: Loneliness scores and social effectiveness during a role-play task predicted changes in social anxiety and overall functioning at posttreatment. Changes in social anxiety were mediated by child-reported loneliness. Outcomes were not moderated by age or depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the role of loneliness as an important mechanism of change during treatment for childhood social phobia.

Exposure-based cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety in youth: an emerging culturally-prescriptive framework / /Tratamiento psicosocial de la ansiedad en jóvenes latinos: un nuevo programa psicosocial adaptado a la cultura y basado en la exposición

Este artículo presenta una breve descripción del estado de los tratamientos psicosociales basados en la evidencia para los trastornos de ansiedad en los niños en general y/o los niños caucásicos comparados con la poca información recopilada acerca de los tratamientos psicosociales para los trastornos de ansiedad en los niños latinos. Este artículo describe un marco prescriptivo que está surgiendo culturalmente para trabajar con jóvenes de grupos minoritarios y un programa de tratamiento cognitivo conductual basado en la exposición correspondiente para los niños ansiosos de origen mejicano. Se presentan los datos del tamaño del efecto del tratamiento preliminar en diez niños y, para ilustrar la aplicación del programa, se describe una prueba del caso de un niño de origen mejicano. Este artículo concluye con un resumen evaluativo y perspectivas para una futura investigación (AU)

This invited article presents a brief overview of the status of evidence-based psychosocial treatments for anxiety disorders in mainstream and/or Caucasian youth relative to the little data that has accumulated about psychosocial treatments for anxiety disorders in Latino youth. The article describes an emerging culturally prescriptive framework for working with minority youth and a corresponding exposure-based cognitive behavioral treatment program for anxious Mexican-origin youth. Preliminary treatment effect size data from ten treated youth is presented and, to illustrate the application of the program, a case sample of a Mexican-origin child is described. The article concludes with an evaluative summary and directions for future research