Latina Teen Mothers’ Perceived Discrimination and Children’s Externalizing Problems: Mediating Family Processes

Racial discrimination has been linked to externalizing problems among people targeted by such discrimination, but less is known about whether caregivers’ experiences of discrimination affect their children and the mechanisms involved. This study examined the effects of maternal discrimination on children’s externalizing problems, its underlying mechanisms, and whether the effects differ by children’s sex. Data from 2019 included 202 low-income Latina teen mothers and their children. Children’s externalizing behaviors were assessed using Achenbach’s Brief Problem Monitor-Parent Form and maternal discrimination was measured with a short version of the Everyday Discrimination Scale. Family stress process was evaluated using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and Multidimensional Assessment of Parenting Scale. Path analysis showed that greater maternal experiences of discrimination were linked to increased behavioral problems among children. Mediation analysis indicated that maternal discrimination was associated with parenting behaviors—particularly supportive parenting—which were associated with parent-reported Latinx children’s externalizing behaviors. Multiple-group analyses showed no evidence of sex differences. These findings indicate the need to shift from solely focusing on people targeted for discrimination to including their family members to estimate the impacts of racial discrimination more accurately. Adopting structural strategies that can address racial discrimination, along with individual interventions that can mitigate compromised mental health and parenting subsequent to caregivers’ discrimination, will be vital to stop racial discrimination from perpetuating disparities in behavioral health among Latinx families. Maternal discrimination is linked to increased behavioral problems in Latinx children born to teen mothers. Parenting mediated the link between maternal discrimination and children’s externalizing behaviors. No evidence of sex differences was found. Findings emphasize the need to assess discrimination’s impacts on families, not only individuals.