An examination of ethnic identity as a mediator of the effects of community participation and neighborhood sense of community on psychological empowerment among urban youth of color

Abstract

Empowerment research has made important contributions toward understanding youth development, well‐being, and activism; however, it has failed to consider the impact that ethnic identity has on psychological empowerment (PE) and among related empowerment predictors (e.g., community participation and neighborhood sense of community [SOC]). The present study focuses on examining the mediating role of ethnic identity between community participation, neighborhood SOC, and PE. Using structural equation modeling path analysis techniques among a sample of Hispanic and Black youth (N = 1,480) from an underresourced community, this study examines the mediating role of ethnic identity between community participation, neighborhood SOC, and PE. Community participation and neighborhood SOC had a positive direct effect on both ethnic identity and PE. Both community participation and neighborhood SOC also indirectly affected PE through ethnic identity. This study supports the mediating role of ethnic identity and the direct effect of ethnic identity on PE. Results point toward the importance of ethnic identity with PE and in the empowerment process. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Validation of an abbreviated Sociopolitical Control Scale for Youth among a sample of underresourced urban youth of color

“…We then tested the difference between the abbreviated SPCS‐Y profile groups on a set of variables (e.g., cognitive empowerment, community participation, neighborhood SOC, and ethnic identity) that may be considerd conceptually related to the intrapersonal component of PE and relevant to youth development. Based upon the extant research, we expected that those groups with both higher scores on the two sociopolitical control dimensions would report higher mean scores on cognitive empowerment (Christens et al., ; Christens et al., ), neighborhood SOC, community participation, and ethnic identity (Lardier, ; Lardier, Garcia‐Reid, et al., ; Speer et al., ). We also expected, based on previous work by Peterson et al.…”

“…Studies examining PE at the intrapersonal level have done so through sociopolitical control, which is considered a vital element of the intrapersonal component of PE (Christens et al., ; Christens et al., ). Sociopolitical control has been examined as a process of empowerment (e.g., bin Abdullah, Almadhoun, & Ying‐Leh, ; Christens et al., ; Lardier, ; Ozer & Schotland, ), an outcome (e.g., Christens & Lin, ; Christens & Peterson, ; Christens et al, ), and an indicator of well‐being (Christens, Peterson, Reid, & Garcia‐Reid, ; Eisman et al., ).…”

“…Studies have examined the ways in which the intrapersonal component of PE relates to social participation and other mechanisms of empowerment (e.g., community participation, neighborhood sense of community [SOC], ethnic identity, and cognitive empowerment; Christens & Peterson, ; Christens et al., ; Christens et al., ; Christens et al., ; Eisman et al., ; Lardier, ; Lardier, Garcia‐Reid, & Reid, ; Peterson, Peterson et al., ; Peterson, Speer, & Peterson, ; Speer, Peterson, Armstead, & Allen, ). There is a need, however, to unpack these relationships, particularly in today's U.S. society, where youth are engaging in critical and empowering social activities at higher rates than in previous decades (Forenza, Rogers, & Lardier, ).…”

“…In addition to cognitive empowerment, intrapersonal PE has also been implicated in predicting neighborhood SOC, community participation, and ethnic identity. Numerous investigations show the relationship between intrapersonal PE and neighborhood SOC (i.e., collective efficacy and neighboring or sharing among neighbors and mutual assistance; Perkins & Long, ) intrapersonal (Lardier, ; Lardier, Garcia‐Reid, et al., ), community participation intrapersonal (Christens et al., ; Eisman et al., ; Lardier, ; Speer et al., ), and ethnic identity intrapersonal (Hipolito‐Delgado & Zion, ; Lardier, ; Lardier, Garcia‐Reid, et al., ). For instance, recent studies indicate that youth of color living in low socioeocomic status communites may have diffuclty cultivating empowerment because they have limited access to both organizations and resources (Kirshner & Ginwright, ; Speer et al., ); however, when provided access to empowering community activites, youth have been found to report higher rates of community belongingness and intrapersonal PE (Lardier, ; Lardier, Garcia‐Reid, et al., ), particularly in the presence of supportive youth–adult partnerships (Zeldin, Krauss, Kim, Collura, & Abdullah, ).…”

“…More recently, Lardier () drew attention to the empirical connection between community participation, neighborhood SOC, ethnic identity, and intrapersonal PE. These findings were particulary important: Although cultural group affiliation, community participation, the connection one has with their community, and ethnic identity have been theoretically associated (e.g., Gutiérrez, ; Tatum, ), there have only been a handful of investigations to empirically support the connection between ethnic identity and intrapersonal PE (Hipolito‐Delgado & Zion, ; Lardier, ; Lardier, Garcia‐Reid, et al., ). Taken together, these studies suggest an important association between the intrapersonal component of PE, neighborhood SOC, community participation, and ethnic identity.…”