Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 43, Issue 6 , Pages 565-569, December 2008

Online Racial Discrimination and Psychological Adjustment Among Adolescents

  • Brendesha M. Tynes, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Educational Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois
    • Department of African American Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress for correspondence: Brendesha Tynes, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Educational Psychology, 1310 S. 6th St, MC708, Champaign, IL 61820.
    • ,
  • Michael T. Giang, M.S.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Education, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
    • ,
  • David R. Williams, Ph.D, M.P.H

      Affiliations

    • Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
    • ,
  • Geneene N. Thompson, B.A.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Educational Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois

Received 31 May 2008; accepted 27 August 2008.

Abstract 

Purpose

To examine associations between individual and vicarious racial discrimination via the Internet and psychological adjustment.

Methods

This study was a cross-sectional survey using a school-based sample of adolescents. Two hundred sixty-four high school students aged 14-18 completed the online survey.

Results

Twenty percent of whites, 29% of African Americans and 42% of multiracials/other experienced individual discrimination and approximately 71% of African Americans and whites and 67% of multiracials witnessed discrimination experienced by same-race and cross-race peers. Hierarchical linear regressions revealed that individual racial discrimination was significantly related to depression and anxiety over and above offline measures. Vicarious discrimination was not related to psychological adjustment measures.

Conclusions

Adolescents frequently experienced both individual and vicarious discrimination online. Consistent with offline studies, online racial discrimination was negatively associated with psychological functioning. This study highlights the need to address racial issues in Internet safety prevention.

Keywords: Internet, Racial discrimination, Psychological adjustment, Adolescent, Depression

 

PII: S1054-139X(08)00416-3

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.08.021

Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 43, Issue 6 , Pages 565-569, December 2008

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