Racism and Indigenous Adolescent Development: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Development
• Indigenous Health
• Sociology of Race

Background:

• Previous research on racism's effects on adolescent development has largely excluded Indigenous youth.
• Understanding the unique experiences of Indigenous adolescents is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of empirical literature on racism experienced by Indigenous adolescents.
• To determine the nature and scope of existing research and its associations with developmental outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across multiple countries (US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand).
• Analysis of 32 empirical studies focusing on self-reported racism and perceived discrimination.
• Inclusion of both quantitative and qualitative study designs.

Main Results:

• Perceived discrimination showed small to moderate effects on adolescent psychopathology and academic performance.
• Qualitative studies highlighted the prevalence and impact of structural racism.
• Research predominantly focused on perceived discrimination, with limited exploration of overt and covert racism.

Conclusions:

• Existing research on racism and Indigenous adolescents is limited but indicates significant developmental impacts.
• Further investigation is needed into various forms of racism (overt and covert) and their specific effects.
• Recommendations are provided for future research to address gaps in understanding the multifaceted impacts of racism on Indigenous youth development.