The Effects of Ethnicity on Adolescent Resilience against Depression

Adolescents (N=6,504) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health participated in a study exploring racial differences in access to resources against depression. Significant results indicated Black adolescents? advantage on perceived adult and family support, perceived intelligence, self-esteem, active coping skills, and college expectations; Hispanics were advantaged in maternal relationships. White adolescents? resources were parents? education, two biological parent households, two parent households, perceived peer support, and survival expectations. Hispanic and Black adolescents were more likely to be on welfare with the former also suffering through unemployment and the latter living with a single mother. Whites were most likely to live with a single father. Future research should investigate the interactions? potency and apply it to treatment of adolescent depression