Expanding the Discourse on Urban Youth of Color

The authors in this study used regression analyses to examine the effects of urban hassles, ethnic identity, and neighborhood satisfaction on perceptions of school and life satisfaction among a diverse group of 158 early adolescents. The question of whether positive ethnic identity and neighborhood satisfaction could moderate the impact of urban hassles on school and life satisfaction was examined. Results indicated that urban hassles and ethnic identity were both uniquely predictive of school satisfaction. However, the relationship between urban hassles and school satisfaction was not in the predicted direction. Neighborhood satisfaction was a significant predictor of both school and overall life satisfaction. Contrary to the hypotheses, neither ethnic identity nor neighborhood satisfaction moderated the effect of urban hassles on school and life satisfaction. These findings underscore the importance of conducting survey research to directly assess the perceptions of urban youth of color, which will ultimately provide a more accurate appraisal of the specific factors that influence their well-being.