Young Expectant Parents Experiences of Discrimination

Adolescents experience many stressors before and during the transition to parenthood. Perceived racial discrimination, a particular type of stressor, has been linked to mental health and health behavior outcomes among adolescents. (Priest et al, 2013) Local conditions such as hyper segregation, mass incarceration and concentrated poverty may impact both exposure to racial discrimination and coping. We hypothesized that understanding experiences of discrimination, ethnic identity and coping would be relevant to the process of culturally adapting a couple-focused intervention previously tested with adolescent expectant parents living in a geographically and socioeconomically distinct environment. (Florsheim, 2012)

Fifty two primiparous expectant mothers and fathers (N=104) in a Midwestern urban setting participated in a trial of the Young Parenthood Program. Expectant mothers and fathers, ages 16-25, completed a modified version of the Everyday Discrimination Scale, and the previously published Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure and the Coping Self-Efficacy scale. Data was collected during a baseline assessment administered prior to 26 weeks gestation.  Structured interview data regarding perceptions of opportunity and discrimination was also collected.

Results indicate that males reported higher levels of perceived discrimination than females, among both self-identified African Americans and Hispanics (p <.001). Among African Americans, perceived discrimination and coping self-efficacy were negatively correlated. Qualitative results reveal that adolescents experience multiple levels of racism including internalized, personally mediated and institutional racism (Jones, 2000).

Study results are being used to inform ongoing program adaptation.  Attention to the unique characteristics of the local environment which may impact program recruitment, retention and outcomes is important.