Examining the relationship between discrimination, access to material resources, and black children?s behavioral functioning during COVID-19

Systemic racism and discriminatory practices continue to disproportionally expose Black children and families to less than optimal health and economic resources. COVID-19 sheds existing light on how long-standing systemic inequalities affecting Black children and families create racial disparities in accessing material resources. The purpose of this study ( N = 704 Black caregivers) is to better understand the rela-tionship between experiences of racial discrimination, access to material resources (i.e., health-promoting resources and economic resources), and Black children's behavioral functioning during the pandemic. Through the application of ordinary least squares regression analysis, we find that inadequate material resources (both health-related risks and economic hardship) during the pandemic were associated with heightened caregiver report that their child was frequently fussy or defiant (externalizing) and frequently anxious or fearful (internalizing). The study found no significant links between caregivers' experiences of discrimination during the pandemic and children's behavioral functioning. However, the study found a significant link between caregivers' concern for their children's experiences of discrimination and their children's externalizing behaviors. Findings from this study offer an important contribution to under-standing how factors rooted in systemic racism-access to material resources-and experiences of dis-crimination affect Black children's well-being during COVID-19.(c) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Systemic racism and discriminatory practices contribute to health and economic disparities faced by Black children and families. This study aims to understand the relationship between racial discrimination, access to material resources, and Black children's behavioral functioning during the pandemic. Findings show that inadequate material resources during the pandemic are associated with increased externalizing and internalizing behaviors in Black children. Caregivers' concern for their children's experiences of discrimination is also linked to externalizing behaviors. This study highlights the impact of systemic racism and discrimination on Black children's well-being during COVID-19.