Framing resilience linked to parental ethnic-racial socialization as hidden: A hidden resilience conceptual framework

Abstract

Parental ethnic-racial socialization is a source of adolescents' resilience against ethnic-racial discrimination. Recent meta-analyses have documented the promotive aspects of ethnic-racial socialization (i.e., how ethnic-racial socialization is directly related with adolescents' adjustment regardless of their discrimination experiences). However, extant empirical studies have produced conflicting results about the protection or moderating role of ethnic-racial socialization, with studies suggesting that ethnic-racial socialization buffers, exacerbates, or does not moderate the impacts of ethnic-racial discrimination. We offer a reconceptualization of existing studies' findings and draw from existing theories to propose Hidden Resilience as a new conceptual framework that highlights how resilience and the positive benefits linked to ethnic-racial socialization may not be noticeable when studies use psychosocial measures but is rather hidden "underneath the skin." Conversations about racism may momentarily feel uncomfortable, upsetting, or stressful for youth, but such conversations can help youth learn how to cope with ethnic-racial discrimination in the long term. Following a review of studies supporting our conceptual framework, we provide suggestions for future research to expand the field's understanding of resilience linked to ethnic-racial socialization.

Keywords: ethnic-racial discrimination; ethnic-racial socialization; resilience.

FIGURE 1

A visual representation of the associations among ethnic-racial discrimination, ethnic-racial socialization, and adolescent developmental adjustment.

FIGURE 2

The hidden resilience model.