Despite the deleterious mental health and health consequences experiences of perceived discrimination can have on ethnic and racial minorities in the United States, a dearth of qualitative studies exist to develop a better understanding of such experiences. As part of a larger study examining psychosocial stress events, and in an effort to fill this gap, this study sought to explore stressful life experiences of intergroup and within-group perceived discrimination among a heterogeneous sample of U.S.-born and foreign-born Latino youth (n = 170) residing in Los Angeles, California, and Trenton, New Jersey. Focus group methodology was implemented, and data were analyzed using grounded theory and constant comparison method. Findings suggest that Latino youths’ experiences of intergroup and within-group discrimination vary by nativity status and region of the United States. Findings may be helpful for researchers, practitioners, and others working with Latino youth.
Adams, J.R. ( 1938). Greasers and gringos: The historical roots of Anglo-Hispanic prejudice. Jefferson, NC: McFarland .
2.
Blake, S.M., Ledsky, R., Goodenow, C., & O’Donnell, L. (2001). Recency of immigration, substance use, and sexual behaviour among Massachusetts adolescents. American Journal of Public Health, 91, 794-798.
3.
Cervantes, R.C., Córdova, D., Kilp, R., & Fisher, D.G. ( 2008, October). The development of the Hispanic Stress Inventory-Adolescent version. Poster session presented at the annual conference of the National Hispanic Science Network on Drug Abuse, Washington, DC.
4.
Cervantes, R.C., Padilla, A.M., & de Snyder, N.S. (1991). The Hispanic Stress Inventory: A culturally relevant approach to psychosocial assessment. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology , 3, 438-447.
5.
Clark, R. ( 2004). Interethnic group and intraethnic group racism: Perceptions and coping in Black university students. Journal of Black Psychology, 30, 506-526.
6.
Clark, R., Anderson, N.B., Clark, V.R., & Williams, D.R. (1999). Racism as a stressor for African Americans. A biopsychosocial model. American Psychologist , 54, 805-816.
7.
Coker, T.R., Elliot, M.N., Kanouse, D.E., Grunbaum, J.A., Schwebel. D.C., Gilliland, J., et al. (2009). Perceived ethnic/racial discrimination among fifth-grade students and its association with mental health. American Journal of Public Health, 99, 878-884.
8.
Córdova, D., Cervantes, R.C., Fisher, D.G., & Kilp, L. ( 2009, May). Psychometric properties of the Hispanic Stress Inventory-Adolescent version. Poster session presented at the annual conference of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
9.
DeGarmo, D.S., & Martinez, C.R. (2006). A culturally informed model of academic well-being for Latino youth: The importance of discriminatory experiences and social support. Family Relations, 55, 267-278.
10.
Denzin, N.K., & Lincoln, Y. ( 2005). Handbook of qualitative research (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage .
11.
Edwards, L.M., & Romero, A.J. ( 2008). Coping with discrimination among Mexican decent adolescents . Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 30, 24-39.
12.
Fassinger, R.E. ( 2005). Paradigms, praxis, problems, and promise: Grounded theory in counseling psychology research. Journal of Counseling Psychology , 52, 156-166.
13.
Finch, B.K., Kolody, B., & Vega, W.A. ( 2000). Perceived discrimination and depression among Mexican-origin adults in California. Journal of Health and Social Behavior , 41, 295-313.
14.
Flores, E., Tschann, J.M., Dimas, J.M., Bachen, E.A., Pasch, L.A., & de Groat, C.L. (2008). Perceived discrimination, perceived stress, and mental and physical health among Mexican-origin adults . Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 30, 401-424.
15.
Garcia, C., & Lindgren, S. (2009). "Life grows between the rocks": Latino adolescents’ and parents’ perspectives on mental health stressors. Research in Nursing & Health, 32, 148-162.
LaRossa, R. ( 2005). Grounded theory methods and qualitative family research . Journal of Marriage and Family, 67, 837-857.
18.
López, I. ( 2008). Puerto Rican phenotype: Understanding its historical underpinnings and psychological associations. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 30, 161-180.
19.
Marotta, S.A., & Garcia, J.G. ( 2003). Latinos in the United States in 2000. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 25, 13-34.
20.
Morgan, D.L. ( 1997). Focus groups as qualitative research (2nd ed.). Newbury Park, CA: Sage .
21.
Morrow, S.L. ( 2005). Quality and trustworthiness in qualitative research in counseling psychology. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 250-260.
22.
Patton, M.Q. ( 2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
23.
Pérez, D.J., Fortuna, L., & Alegría, M. (2008). Prevalence and correlates of everyday discrimination among U.S. Latinos. Journal of Community Psychology, 36, 421-433.
24.
Rosenbloom, S.R., & Way, N. ( 2004). Experiences of discrimination among African American, Asian American, and Latino adolescents in an urban high school. Youth & Society, 35, 420-451.
25.
Stewart, D.W., Shamdasani, P.N., & Rook, D.W. ( 2007). Focus groups: Theory and practice (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage .
26.
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. ( 1998). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
27.
Sue, D.W., Bucceri, J., Lin, A.I., Nadal, K.L., & Torino, G.C. ( 2007). Racial microaggressions and the AsianAmerican experience. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 13, 72-81.
28.
Sue, D.W., Nadal, K.L., Capodilupo, C.M., Lin, A.I., Torino, G.C., & Rivera, D.P. ( 2008). Racial microaggressions against Black Americans: Implications for counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 86, 330-338.
29.
Telzer, E.H., & Vasquez Garcia, H. A. (2009). Skin color and self-perceptions of immigrant and U.S.-born Latinas: The moderating role of racial socialization and ethnic identity. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 31, 357-374.
30.
Umaña-Taylor, A.J., & Bámaca, M.Y. (2004). Conducting focus groups with Latino populations: Lessons from the field. Family Relations , 53, 261-272.
31.
Villalba, J.A. ( 2007). Culture specific assets to consider when counseling Latina/o children and adolescents. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 35, 15-35.
32.
Williams, D.R., Neighbors, H.W., & Jackson, J.S. ( 2003). Racial/ethnic discrimination and health: Findings from community studies. American Journal of Public Health, 93, 200-208.
