Latinx Youth in Rural Settings: Understanding the Links Between Ethnic-Racial Identity, Neighborhood Risks, Perceived Discrimination, and Depressive Symptoms

Introduction: The current study examined the relationships between neighborhood risk, perceived ethnic-racial discrimination, and depressive symptoms among rural Latinx adolescents. We also tested for potential moderation effects of ethnic-racial identity (ERI) and how these associations differ by gender.

Methods: Interviewer-administered surveys were used to collect quantitative data for this cross-sectional study in 2017. The sample included 198 Latinx adolescents (M_age = 15.90, SD = 1.47; 54.4% female; 75.6% US born) recruited from rural farm areas in the Southeastern United States. Analyses were performed using hierarchical regression analyses in SPSS. Separate models were run for each ERI component.

Results: Results revealed associations between neighborhood risk, perceived ethnic-racial discrimination, and depressive symptoms. ERI affirmation significantly moderated the association between neighborhood risk and depressive symptoms, demonstrating protective factors. Gender differences were identified in the hypothesized model.

Conclusions: Results highlight the role of neighborhood context and perceived ethnic-racial discrimination in mental health outcomes among rural Latinx youth. Additionally, the findings suggest ERI may be an effective buffer against these stressors. Our results replicate findings pertaining to the influence of neighborhood risk that have been reported in extant literature and extend what is known of the protective role of ERI to Latinx adolescents from rural communities.