Correlates in children's experiences of parents' racial socialization behaviors

This study examined racial socialization processes among 94 African America n parents of third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade children as they were predict ed by children's ethnic identity exploration and unfair treatment as well a s by parents' ethnic identity and discrimination experiences. Findings indi cated that children's ethnic identity exploration and parents' perceptions that their children had been treated unfairly by an adult because of their race were both significantly associated with the frequency of messages to c hildren regarding discrimination (Preparation for Bias). Parents' perceptio ns of children's unfair treatment from an adult and children's perceptions that they had been treated unfairly by peers were significantly associated with parents' cautions and warnings to children about intergroup relations (Promotion of Mistrust). Moreover, the influence of parents' perceptions on Promotion of Mistrust were especially pronounced when children also report ed unfair treatment from adults. Children's identity exploration and unfair treatment were not associated with parents' emphasis on ethnic pride, heri tage, and diversity (Cultural Socialization/Pluralism). Thus, findings sugg est that parental factors are most central in the racial socialization mess ages that children receive. However, children's perceptions of discriminati on and information seeking regarding their own history appear to have some influence on parental messages about race.