Gender differences in the association between discrimination, mental health, and peer support among ethnic/racial minority adolescents

Peers play a significant role in adolescent development and mental health. However, research has found mixed findings regarding the role of peer support as a protective factor against discrimination. This study uses longitudinal survey data from Asian, Black, and Latiné adolescents’ (n = 350; Mage = 14.72, SD = 0.54, 69% female, 31% male, 0% non-binary; 41% Asian, 22% Black, and 37% Latiné) across five public high schools to investigate gender differences in longitudinal associations between discrimination and mental health, considering the moderating role of peer support. Longitudinal regression analyses found direct associations between everyday discrimination at T1 with mental health outcomes at T2, where discrimination at T1 predicted higher levels of depression, anxiety, and rumination as well as lower levels of self-esteem one year later, controlling for race/ethnicity, gender, and T1 mental health. Furthermore, a 3-way interaction between everyday discrimination, peer support, and gender predicted self-esteem one year later. For girls, more peer support buffered the negative effect of discrimination on self-esteem. For boys, however, more peer support exacerbated the negative effect of discrimination on self-esteem. These findings highlight important gender differences in the role of peer support in the context of discrimination with implications for peer support interventions.