An Examination of the Bidirectional and Contextual Relationship between Critical Consciousness and Wellbeing Among Minoritized Emerging Adults

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ABSTRACT Emerging adults experiencing structural discrimination based on race/ethnicity, gender, and/or sexual orientation are at heightened risk for wellbeing challenges. The recent sociopolitical environment during the COVID-19 pandemic has further amplified disparities in wellbeing. Scholarship suggests that critical consciousness (i.e., one’s analysis and action against structural discrimination) may help to protect and promote wellbeing among minoritized emerging adults facing discrimination. Furthermore, participation in community-based organizations that foster critical consciousness and work to dismantle structural discrimination may protect minoritized emerging adults’ wellbeing. Thus, it is important to investigate the bidirectional and contextual relationship between critical consciousness and wellbeing. In order to understand the relationship between critical consciousness and wellbeing, I will conduct a mixed methods study to understand the relationship between critical consciousness and wellbeing longitudinally, and with consideration to the influences of discrimination and community-based organizations. I will focus specifically on the experiences of three minoritized groups: Asian-origin, women, and lesbian/gay/bisexual/queer/questioning (LGBQ+) emerging adults. The primary hypothesis of this proposal is that there will be a significant relationship between CC and wellbeing over time, and that CC may not fully buffer minoritized emerging adults against discrimination, but that CC development that occurs within an community based organizations will promote wellbeing. I will address the hypothesis and achieve the goals of this proposal through 3 Aims. In Aim 1, I will use path analysis to understand the evolution of critical consciousness over four time points and then examine the relationship between critical consciousness and wellbeing (measured by anxiety, stress, and hopefulness) bidirectionally for each group over time. In Aim 2, I will again use path analysis, now introducing critical consciousness as a moderator, to determine the role critical consciousness may play in reducing the relationship between discrimination and wellbeing for each group. In Aim 3, I will conduct in-depth interviews to qualitatively explore the role of identity-linked community-based organizations in further encouraging wellbeing among minoritized emerging adults as they develop their critical consciousness. Investigation into the role of critical consciousness on wellbeing is a new and growing field. This work, when complete, will contribute meaningfully to our base of knowledge regarding the support of minoritized emerging adults facing structural discrimination, and thus will have far reaching consequences for research on health and health disparities, as well as efforts to cultivate community-oriented interventions.