Parental microprotections: Testing measurement equivalence in Black, Latinx, and White families

Objective

This study examined measurement equivalence of parental microprotections in Black, Latinx, and White families.

Background

Microprotections refer to the small daily caring, supportive, and loving behaviors Black parents engage in to counteract the negative effects of racism and discrimination. It is possible that this parenting practice applies to other families in which adolescents are at risk for discrimination because of social identities and/or membership in a stigmatized group (e.g., Latinx adolescents, sexual minority adolescents).

Methods

Participants were parent–adolescent dyads (N = 395) from across the United States. Adolescents were in Grades 9 through 12, and approximately one third of the families identified as Black/African American (n = 131), one third as Hispanic/Latinx (n = 132), and one third as White (n = 132).

Results

Measurement equivalence was evaluated through a series of multigroup confirmatory factor analysis. Results showed strict measurement invariance in parent reports of parental microprotections across all three racial/ethnic groups. Adolescent reports of mothers' microprotections demonstrated strict measurement invariance and adolescent reports of fathers' microprotections achieved configural measurement invariance.

Conclusion

These results support the use of the Parental Microprotections Scale in African American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and White families.

Implications

Parental microprotections are one way that parents can nurture hope, happiness, and health despite discrimination that adolescents may face. The Parental Microprotections Scale may be useful for family science practitioners and researchers who are interested in evaluating potential supports in adolescents and their families.