The relationship between perceived discrimination and hope for the future, global self worth and academic competence: In a multi-racial/ethnic, low income sample of school age children

Grace E Quattrocki, Purdue University

Abstract

Objective: To examine the extent to which a change in perceived interpersonal discrimination was associated with a change in the levels of hope for the future, global self-worth and perceived academic competence among a multiracial sample of adolescents attending a four-week, summer positive youth development program. Method: We first estimated means with standard errors of continuous variables and percentages within categorical variables in our total sample, and between those returning to PALS and those who were new to PALS. We then examined the correlation between perceived interpersonal racial/ethnic discrimination and the three outcome variables at the beginning and end of the program. Finally, a multivariate Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression was conducted to assess the relationship between discrimination and hope for the future, global self-worth and perceived academic competence. Data was obtained from the 2013 Purdue Athletes Life Success program, a sample of 372 8-14 year old adolescents. Dependent variables included hope for the future, global self-worth, and perceived academic competence. Results: The students who were new to PALS and reported an increase in discrimination, experienced more negative changes in hope for the future over the course of the program (beta= -0.43, p <0.05) compared to the low stable group. In regards to global self-worth, an increase in discrimination was associated with a decrease in global self-worth over the course of the program (beta= -0.27, p<0.05) for those students who were new to PALS when compared to the students that consistently experienced low levels of discrimination over both time points. Returning students who experienced high stable discrimination experience more negative changes in academic competence (b= -0.25 p <0.01) as compared to the low stable group. As discrimination increased, hope for the future, global self-worth and perceived academic competence decreased. However, discrimination, at both time points, was not statistically correlated with hope for the future. Conclusions: These results suggest experiences of perceived discrimination may affect adolescents' levels of hope for the future, global self-worth, perceived academic performance.

Degree

M.P.H.

Advisors

Hunte, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Public health|Ethnic studies

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