%0 Journal Article %J Am J Community Psychol %D 2014 %T Racial/ethnic identity and subjective physical and mental health of Latino Americans: an asset within? %A Ai, Amy L %A Aisenberg, Eugene %A Weiss, Saskia I %A Salazar, Dulny %K Acculturation %K Adolescent %K Adult %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Female %K Health Status %K Hispanic Americans %K Humans %K Male %K Mental Health %K Middle Aged %K Religion %K Self Concept %K Social Identification %K Social Support %K Young Adult %X

Social Identity Theory indicates that ethnic identity could benefit minority members in a society because of its promotion of a sense of belonging, or of its buffering of the damage of discrimination. Despite growing investigation about Latinos' overall health, few studies have simultaneously examined the influence of multiple cultural strength factors, especially racial/ethnic identity, social support, and religious attendance, on these outcomes. Using the National Latino and Asian American Study, we examine the potential predictive value of these cultural strength factors on Latinos' Self-Rated Mental and Physical Health (SRMH and SRPH). Two separate two-step regression models revealed significant positive effects of racial/ethnic identity on both mental and physical health of Latinos, above and beyond the effect of known demographic and acculturation factors, such as discrimination. Religious attendance had a positive effect on SRMH but not on SRPH. The deteriorating roles of discrimination, in mental health only, and that of Length in the US in both outcomes, however, was primarily not altered by entry of these cultural strength factors. The independent direct effect of racial/ethnic identity among Latinos nationwide may suggest that this cultural strength is an internalized protective asset. Longitudinal data is needed to explore its underlying mechanism and long-term impact.

%B Am J Community Psychol %V 53 %P 173-84 %8 2014 Mar %G eng %N 1-2 %R 10.1007/s10464-014-9635-5 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Orthopsychiatry %D 2012 %T Institutional predictors of developmental outcomes among racially diverse foster care alumni. %A Garcia, Antonio R %A Pecora, Peter J %A Harachi, Tracy %A Aisenberg, Eugene %K Adult %K African Americans %K Consumer Behavior %K Educational Status %K Employment %K Ethnic Groups %K European Continental Ancestry Group %K Female %K Foster Home Care %K Hispanic Americans %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Mental Disorders %X

Child welfare practitioners are confronted with the responsibility of relying on best practice to ensure children in foster care transition successfully into adulthood after leaving the foster care system. Yet, despite recent reforms and efforts to address their needs, research clearly shows that foster care alumni are still more likely to experience negative developmental outcomes compared to adults in the general population. The purpose of this study was to better understand how child-serving systems of care adequately prepare racially diverse foster care alumni to thrive. Controlling for gender, age, placement instability, and circumstances of exit from foster care, study findings highlighted salient racial and ethnic differences relative to which factors predicted the odds of mental health, education, and employment outcomes. Implications for developing and implementing culturally sensitive, evidence-based prevention and intervention programs to promote positive developmental outcomes among racially diverse foster care alumni are discussed.

%B Am J Orthopsychiatry %V 82 %P 573-84 %8 2012 Oct %G eng %N 4 %R 10.1111/j.1939-0025.2012.01181.x