Fostering Higher Academic Performance in African American Youth Through Enhanced Self-Efficacy: The Importance of Integrated Racial-Ethnic Identity

Authors

  • Eric Kyere Indiana University School of Social Work
  • Sadaaki Fukui Indiana University School of Social Work
  • James Holly Jr. University of Michigan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v21i7.4483

Keywords:

higher education, education, racial disparities, African American youth, racial-ethnic identity, self-efficacy, academic performance

Abstract

Although the dimensions that constitute racial-ethnic identity (REI) interrelate to affect psychosocial and academic outcomes, few studies have explored the nature (e.g., directionality) of these interrelations in understanding a strong and healthy REI among African American youth in relation to psychosocial and academic outcomes. In the current study, we applied path analysis to investigate the potential mediation effects of private regard in translating the effects of racial centrality and public regard to affect African American youth’s academic performance through self-efficacy. Using a nationally representative sample of African American youth, findings suggest that racial centrality and public regard correlate to affect private regard, controlling for neighborhood safety and sociodemographic backgrounds. Private regard in turn, associated with self-efficacy to affect academic performance measured by GPA. These results indicate the need to investigate the potential mediation effects among REI dimensions to understand the nuanced pathways REI dimensions configure to form a strong and healthy REI to affect psychosocial and academic outcomes among African American youth.

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Published

2021-08-25

How to Cite

Kyere, E., Fukui, S., & Holly Jr., J. (2021). Fostering Higher Academic Performance in African American Youth Through Enhanced Self-Efficacy: The Importance of Integrated Racial-Ethnic Identity. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 21(7). https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v21i7.4483

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Section

Articles