Volume 77, Issue 5 p. 1387-1402

Mothers' and Fathers' Racial Socialization in African American Families: Implications for Youth

Susan M. McHale

Susan M. McHale

The Pennsylvania State University

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Ann C. Crouter

Ann C. Crouter

The Pennsylvania State University

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Ji-Yeon Kim

Ji-Yeon Kim

The Pennsylvania State University

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Linda M. Burton

Linda M. Burton

The Pennsylvania State University

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Kelly D. Davis

Kelly D. Davis

The Pennsylvania State University

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Aryn M. Dotterer

Aryn M. Dotterer

The Pennsylvania State University

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Dena P. Swanson

Dena P. Swanson

The Pennsylvania State University

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First published: 25 September 2006
Citations: 212
concerning this article should be addressed to Susan M. McHale, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, 105 White, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Electronic mail may be sent to [email protected].

This work was funded by a Grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, RO1-HD32336-02, Susan M. McHale and Ann C. Crouter, Co-Principal Investigators. We thank Marni Kan, Ashleigh May, Jaime Marks, Carolyn Ransford, Cindy Shearer, Shawn Whiteman, Megan Winchell, Sandee Hemman, and Kristen Johnston and Temple University's Survey Research Center for their help in conducting this study and the participating families for their time and insights about their family lives.

Abstract

Mothers' and fathers' cultural socialization and bias preparation with older (M=13.9 years) and younger (M=10.31 years) siblings were studied in 162 two-parent, African American families. Analyses examined whether parental warmth and offspring age and gender were linked to parental practices and whether parents' warmth, spouses' racial socialization, or youth age or gender moderated links between racial socialization and youth outcomes. Parental warmth was linked to parents' socialization. Mothers engaged in more socialization with older offspring, and fathers more with sons. Mothers' cultural socialization was positively related to youth ethnic identity and fathers' was negatively related to youth depression symptoms. Youth exhibited a lower locus of control when mothers were high but fathers were low in racial socialization.