Soc Work Public Health. 2025 Dec 28:1-12. doi: 10.1080/19371918.2025.2607686. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to examine the impact of Africentric ethnic identity on the relationship between gender and poor neighborhood air quality. Quantitative data were collected from a convenience sample of 122 African American charter school students residing in a northeastern metropolitan area of the United States. Female students reported greater satisfaction with neighborhood air quality and higher Africentric ethnic identity in comparison to male students. Hierarchical regression analysis showed Africentric ethnic identity to operate as a covariate in the relationship between gender and neighborhood air quality. The results showed that Africentric ethnic identity statistically significantly improved the model fit, explaining additional variance in neighborhood air quality beyond gender. Higher Africentric ethnic identity was a function of greater satisfaction with neighborhood air quality in students. Africentric ethnic identity operates as a source of resilience that can help youth combat climate change problems like poor air quality through emotional and mental flexibility.
PMID:41456333 | DOI:10.1080/19371918.2025.2607686
