Latina/o Youths' Discrimination Experiences in the U.S. Southwest: Estimates from Three Studies.

ABSTRACT

Despite growing awareness of the negative effects of ethnic-racial discrimination, we know little about the frequency of these experiences among Latina/o youth. Utilizing three independent studies, we examined estimates of general discrimination and police discrimination among Latino/a youth living in the U.S. Southwest (total N = 1,066; ages 12 to 21 years old). Ethnic-racial discrimination experiences differed by adolescent gender; for girls, 47% reported discrimination at age 12; highest estimates were at age 17 (70%) and 18 years old (68%). Boys reported greater general discrimination than girls during early and late adolescence; the highest estimates were observed at ages 19, 20, and 21 years (94%, 86%, and 87% respectively). Gender differences also emerged with police discrimination; boys reported being hassled by a police officer more often than girls at every age. Findings suggest that most Latino/a adolescents experience discrimination, and Latino/a boys are particularly vulnerable.