The toll of prejudice: The longitudinal interplay between ethnic prejudice and well-being in adolescence

Ethnic prejudice has negative effects on the well-being of ethnic minorities. However, less is known about the consequences of holding negative attitudes toward diversity for ethnic majority youth in current multicultural societies. Across two studies, the current research examined the medium-term (Study I) and day-to-day (Study II) reciprocal associations between affective and cognitive prejudice and several well-being outcomes (i.e., subjective, psychological, and social well-being, physical health, and sleep) among ethnic majority adolescents. In Study I ( N = 1103; M age = 15.66, 48.59% females), ethnic prejudice was found to be mostly linked longitudinally and concurrently to decreases in well-being indicators, although with a few exceptions, at both the within- and between-person levels. Conversely, in Study II ( N = 458; M age = 15.59, 54.77% females), poorer subjective well-being and physical health were associated with increases in prejudice on the next day. Together, these findings suggest a spiraling effect whereby poor well-being leads to short-term increases in prejudice, which in turn contribute to medium-term decreases in well-being. Overall, this research highlights for the first time the intertwined nature of prejudice and well-being among ethnic majority youth and suggests the need to support adolescents in navigating the diversity of current societies. Plain language summary: Research has highlighted that being subject to prejudice and discrimination can have detrimental effects on the well-being of ethnic minority youth. It is not clear, however, whether ethnic majority adolescents who hold prejudices against others can also suffer negative consequences for their health and well-being (i.e., subjective, psychological, and social well-being, physical health, and sleep functioning). Understanding the implications of prejudice is crucial to planning interventions aimed at fostering inclusivity and positive relationships among people of different ethnicities. This research aimed to shed light on these processes in adolescence across two studies involving a large group of Italian (ethnic majority) youth. In Study I, the reciprocal associations between ethnic prejudice and well-being across four time points over one year were examined. Adolescents who display higher levels of prejudice were found to report lower levels of well-being later. In Study II, these associations were analyzed on a daily basis over one week. Youth with poorer well-bei