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An Ecological Approach to Racial Environments and Their Relationship to Mental Health

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Abstract

Although research has demonstrated that aspects of racial environments such as racial experiences and racial diversity can relate to psychological health and well-being, few studies have examined what specifically happens when individuals move from one racial environment to another. The present study asked 179 African Americans transitioning to a predominantly white institution (freshmen or junior transfers) about racial diversity (percentage of African Americans) at their prior institution, racial experiences at their prior institution, and racial experiences at the current institution and examined how these characteristics related to self-reported depression. Overall, we found that more negative previous racial experiences predicted greater depressive symptoms in college. Results also revealed a significant three-way interaction such that more positive current racial experiences predicted less depressive symptoms, but only for those students coming from predominantly negative racial environments—low racial diversity and more negative racial experiences. Our findings highlight the complex role of past and present racial environmental factors in influencing psychological health. Implications for African American college students’ success and well-being are discussed.

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Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, 310 Moore Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

      José A. Soto

    2. VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA

      Nana A. Dawson-Andoh

    3. Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, 217 Moore Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

      Dawn P. Witherspoon

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    1. José A. Soto
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    2. Nana A. Dawson-Andoh
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    3. Dawn P. Witherspoon
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    Correspondence to José A. Soto.

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    José A. Soto and Nana A. Dawson-Andoh have contributed equally to this manuscript. Parts of this manuscript are based on work submitted by the second author in partial fulfillment of the doctoral degree requirements at the Pennsylvania State University.

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    Soto, J.A., Dawson-Andoh, N.A. & Witherspoon, D.P. An Ecological Approach to Racial Environments and Their Relationship to Mental Health. Race Soc Probl 8, 209–221 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-016-9175-8

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