Examining racial identity invalidation and well-being among Biracial adolescents using the identity capital model

Abstract

Biracial Black–White adolescents report more psychological distress than most monoracial youth, but less is known about the factors that precede or protect Biracial youth from such distress. This study examines how racial identity invalidation (RII; the denial of a Biracial person's racial identity/belonging) relates to depressive symptoms and satisfaction with life (SWL) among 330 Biracial Black–White adolescents in the United States (67% boys; M_age = 14.8, SD = 1.5). Guided by the identity capital model, it also examines whether racial flexibility (e.g., shifting between different racial identities based on what race is valued in a social context) and personal authenticity moderate those associations. The analyses included two moderated moderation regression models, which showed that RII was associated with more depressive symptoms and less satisfaction with life. Significant interaction effects emerged, illustrating that racial flexibility and authenticity may be promotive and protective for Biracial Black–White adolescents. The two moderators, however, functioned differently for each indicator of well-being (e.g., depressive symptoms vs. satisfaction with life). Implications for research and practice are discussed.