Study: The Effects of Discrimination on Latino Youth

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Latino immigrant youth who have been discriminated tend to suffer more from depression and low self-esteem, Latina Lista reports.

A study conducted by the University of Missouri followed “302 immigrant youth, ages 13 to 17, who had lived in the United States for five years or less, three questionnaires over the course of a year. The surveys asked about their experiences with discrimination, their mental health, and whether they volunteered or helped others.”

The study concluded that immigrant youth who have been exposed to discrimination had higher symptoms of depression and felt negative about their surroundings and helping others.

“This study showed unlike previous studies that there may be a cyclical process such that discrimination is related to both depressive symptoms and prosocial behaviors (especially altruistic), but then there is a reciprocal relation between depressive symptoms and altruistic behaviors,” wrote Dr. Gustavo Carlo ,the Millsap Professor of Diversity and Multicultural Studies in MU’s College of Human Environmental Science, “Over time, this cyclical process may reinforce these links leading to less and less social cooperation. The evidence for the back and forth was new to us.”