This paper describes the research methodology and findings from a study that examined the moderating role of family factors on victimization experiences, internalizing, and academic outcomes among Black urban ninth graders, noting that racial socialization and parent relations can help offset the potential influence of discrimination and heard violence.
This study investigated the moderating role of family factors on victimization experiences and internalizing and academic outcomes. Data (collected 2017–2019) on 471 Black urban ninth graders (51 percent male; Mage = 14 years) with elevated externalizing symptoms were analyzed and the authors explored how the interaction between (self-reported) racial socialization, parent relations, and (teacher-reported) family academic involvement and (self-reported) violence exposure, racial discrimination, and (teacher-reported) bullying potentially influenced (student- and teacher-reported) anxiety and depression, and (student-reported) academic engagement and negative school attitudes. High racial socialization and parent relations were associated with lower internalizing symptoms for youth with discrimination and heard violence, respectively. High academic involvement and parent relations were linked with higher internalizing symptoms for youth with discrimination and high parent relations were linked with higher anxiety for bullied youth. Racial socialization and parent relations may help offset the potential influence of discrimination and heard violence, respectively, for adolescents. (Published Abstract Provided)