Different Mechanisms Link Internalized Racism to Externalizing Symptomology Among Black American Adolescent Boys and Girls

Emerging research and theory suggests that the internalization of racist ideas and attitudes, internalized racism, poses a significant threat to Black American adolescents' and increases their risk of externalizing symptomology. Prospective, empirical research linking internalized racism to externalizing symptoms among Black American adolescents and the mechanisms explaining this link is scarce. We hypothesize that internalized racism will forecast externalizing symptoms indirectly, via effects on poor self-regulation and depressive symptoms. We also examine potential sex differences in the pathways linking internalized racism to externalizing symptoms. A random sample of 445 Black American adolescents and their primary caregivers were recruited from 8 counties in rural Georgia. Participants provided survey data annually when adolescents were aged 13, 14, 15, and 16 years. Direct, indirect, and multigroup hypotheses were tested with structural equation modeling. Internalized racism assessed at ages 13 and 14 years forecast increased externalizing at age 16, both directly, and indirectly, via increases in poor self-regulation and depressive symptoms. Sex moderated the indirect pathways linking internalized racism and externalizing. Poor self-regulation significantly mediated the path between internalized racism and externalizing symptoms among Black American male youth. Depressive symptoms significantly mediated the pathway between internalized racism and externalizing symptoms among Black American female adolescents. Findings suggest behavioral treatment directions for male and female Black American adolescents experiencing depressive symptoms. Little is known about the influence of internalization of racist ideas and attitudes, often referred to as internalized racism, on Black youths’ development of externalizing symptoms. In this study, the authors surveyed 445 Black youths annually at ages 13, 14, 15, and 16 years. Internalized racism at ages 13 and 14 predicted increased externalizing symptoms at age 16. Among boys, depressive symptoms mediated the path between internalized racism and externalizing symptoms. Among girls, struggles with self-regulation mediated the path between internalized racism and externalizing symptoms.