Ethnic/Racial Identity, Adolescent Sleep, and Somatic Health: Discrimination and Stress Responses as Mediating Mechanisms

Daily responses to ethnic/racial discrimination, both adaptively and maladaptively, could in part explain the association between ERI exploration and adolescent health. Active participation in cultural activities may increase adaptive responses to ethnic/racial discrimination; meanwhile, uncertainty about ERI may lead to maladaptive reactions such as rumination. For ERI commitment, only problem-solving coping with ethnic/racial discrimination mediated the links to health outcomes, an observation possibly explained by the benefits of holding a strong sense of commitment to ERI.