Ethnic-racial socialization and ethnic minority youth’s hair cortisol concentration

AI Summary

Study examined relations between parental ethnic-racial socialisation and youth chronic physiological stress measured via hair cortisol concentration (HCC).
Parents reported enculturation and preparation for bias as ERS dimensions; enculturation significantly associated with lower youth HCC.
Sample comprised 48 Black and 38 Latino US youth (mean age 12.18); findings underscore parental ERS relevance to minority youth stress physiology.

Br J Dev Psychol. 2026 Jul 18. doi: 10.1111/bjdp.70060. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Despite the plethora of evidence on the association of parental ethnic-racial socialization (ERS) and ethnic minority youth’s mental health, the physiological stress-response mechanism that may explain such link has been rarely studied. In the current study, we investigated the relations between parental ERS and youth’s chronic physiological stress, indexed by hair cortisol concentrations (HCC). Forty-eight Black and 38 Latino youth (M_age = 12.18 years, SD = 1.50) in the United States and their parents participated in the study. Parents reported ERS in terms of enculturation and preparation for bias. Youth’s hair samples were collected and analysed for HCC. Results revealed that parental enculturation was significantly associated with lower levels of HCC. The importance of parental ERS in relation to ethnic minority youth’s stress physiology is discussed.

PMID:42470210 | DOI:10.1111/bjdp.70060

Document this CPD