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The Examination of Cognitive Empowerment Dimensions on Intrapersonal Psychological Empowerment, Psychological Sense of Community, and Ethnic Identity Among Urban Youth of Color

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Abstract

The purpose of this investigation is to examine heterogeneity and membership with subgroups of cognitive empowerment among youth of color. Within this heterogeneity, this study hopes to identify the relationship each of these subgroups of youth have with conceptually related variables including intrapersonal psychological empowerment, psychological sense of community (SOC), and ethnic identity. The participants were 383 urban youth of color in grades 9 through 12. The results showed significant variation between profile groups of youth and the association higher levels of cognitive empowerment have with intrapersonal psychological empowerment, psychological SOC, and ethnic identity; albeit, some variation was present. This study is explorative in nature and an effort to highlight the complexity of empowerment and cognitive empowerment. Findings are significant as these outcomes provide valuable insight into the intricacies of cognitive empowerment and highlight the importance of youth experiencing high levels of cognitive empowerment on domains related to civic engagement and critical awareness.

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Funding

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), Grant No. SPO20229-01.

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  1. Department of Individual, Family, and Community Education, Family and Child Studies Program, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    David T. Lardier

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of New Mexico School of Medicine, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    David T. Lardier

  3. Department of Family Science and Human Development, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA

    Pauline Garcia-Reid & Robert J. Reid

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  1. David T. Lardier
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Lardier, D.T., Garcia-Reid, P. & Reid, R.J. The Examination of Cognitive Empowerment Dimensions on Intrapersonal Psychological Empowerment, Psychological Sense of Community, and Ethnic Identity Among Urban Youth of Color. Urban Rev 51, 768–788 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11256-019-00504-7

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