Influence of maternal ethnic–racial identity on children’s internalizing symptom trajectories

Abstract

We investigate the impact of maternal ethnic–racial identity on child internalizing trajectories in immigrant and U.S.-born Latinx families. Data from N=1,076 Latinx mothers’ reports at child ages 1, 3, 5, and 9 years were used. For children of U.S.-born mothers, but not immigrant mothers, greater levels of maternal ethnic–racial identity were associated with lower levels of internalizing symptoms at age 3, yet attenuated decreases in internalizing symptoms over time. Thus, mother’s ethnic–racial identity was a protective factor for children at preschool age but became less protective through school age. Our results suggest that incorporating ethnic–racial identity elements, particularly for U.S.-born mothers of toddlers to preschoolers, may be an important consideration when designing interventions for Latinx families.