Black American adolescent's efficacy in the face of discrimination

Abstract

The pervasiveness of racism in the U.S. and its negative relations with key development outcomes has led researchers to uncover mediators, of which this article argues efficacy should be considered. Self-efficacy, one's belief in their capability to accomplish a task or goal, can be measured in multiple domains of functioning and contexts to predict behaviour. The current study examines possible specificity in the relation between discrimination (general discrimination and school discrimination) and efficacy (academic efficacy and efficacy to combat discrimination), whether resilience moderates these associations, and if these processes differ by gender. A total of 879 Black youth (47% female; mean age = 12, SD = 0.58) were included in the analyses. Findings suggest that school discrimination experiences are differentially associated with domains of efficacy. Resilience was associated with increased efficacy, but no significant moderation effects were found.