Author ORCID Identifier
Kristia Wantchekon: 0000-0002-9967-9791
Esther Burson: 0000-0001-9682-6349
Olga Kornienko: 0000-0002-7327-0250
Norma J. Perez-Brena: 0000-0002-7612-6246
M. Dalal Safa: 0000-0001-6406-0289
Thao Ha: 0000-0003-1498-7873
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-2025
Publication Title
Journal of Research on Adolescence
Abstract
Ethnic-racial identity (ERI) development reflects the processes through which adolescents learn about their ethnic- racial background (i.e., exploration) and develop clarity about what it means to them (i.e., resolution). Research on ERI has been critiqued for not examining connections between ERI and broader social beliefs, such as critical consciousness (i.e., individuals' level of reflection about social oppression, motivation to take action against it, and the extent to which they take such action). When examining connections to ERI, research underscores the importance of considering individuals' patterns of exploration and resolution in tandem (i.e., ERI status) rather than analyzing them in isolation. Accordingly, the current study utilized latent profile analysis to examine how ERI status profiles were associated with dimensions of Latine adolescents' critical consciousness. Cross-sectional data came from Latine adolescents (n = 338, M = 16.30, age SD: 1.11; 44% boys, 53% girls, 3% another gender) attending a U.S. southwestern high school. Findings revealed three ERI status profiles: Foreclosed (n = 132; lower exploration and higher resolution), Diffuse (n = 59; lower exploration and resolution), and Achieved (n = 147; higher exploration and resolution). Profiles did not significantly differ in critical reflection. The Achieved profile reported the highest critical motivation, the Diffuse profile reported the lowest, and the Foreclosed profile fell between them. The Achieved profile reported higher critical action than the other two profiles, which did not signifi- cantly differ from one another. Findings suggest that among Latine adolescents, engaging in ERI development is connected to feeling more agency to change unjust systems and engaging in more action against such systems, but higher ERI development does not necessarily reflect deeper engagement in questioning those systems (i.e., critical reflection).
Keywords
critical consciousness, ethnic- racial identity, latent profile analysis, Latine youth
Volume
36
First Page
e70140
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.70140
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Rights
© 2026 The Author(s)
Version
Version of Record
Recommended Citation
Wantchekon, Kristia A.; Burson, Esther; Kornienko, Olga; Perez- Brena, Norma J.; Hernández, Maciel M.; Safa, M. Dalal; and Ha, Thao, "Relations between Ethnic-Racial Identity Statuses and Critical Consciousness among Latine Adolescents" (2025). Psychology: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/psy_facpubs/254