A review of the impact of structural racism on lived experiences of adolescents of African descent: Implications for development, brain structure, and health

Abstract

Structural racism is embedded in nearly every sector of society, creating social and environmental contextual drivers that affect the mental and physical health of minoritized populations. Increasing suicide rates and patterns of early onset of chronic disease have prompted inquiries about the potential effects of structural racism on the overall health and well-being of Black youth. To address this concern, we posed the following questions: (1) In what ways does structural racism filter into and affect the development of adolescents of African descent? (2) Have investigations examined variability in the effects and consequences of structural racism on lived experience and development of Black youth? (3) How does structural racism get inside the skull to affect development including mental and physical health outcomes? and (4) Are there pathways through which family-centered preventive interventions can shape youths’ neurodevelopment to avert the negative consequences of structural racism on their health trajectories? Considerations for future research and clinical practices are offered, with implications to refine the complex and entrenched linkages between structural racism and health disparities among minoritized youth, their families, and communities.