Estimating school race/ethnic enrollment effects on student mental health: Density and diversity as a risk or protective factor

Abstract

Objective: To investigate effects of school race/ethnic enrollment on mental health in early adolescence by examining both race/ethnic density (percent non-Latinx [NL] White enrollment) and diversity (range/size of all race/ethnic groups enrolled). Variation by student race/ethnic identity is examined as minority stressors are uniquely experienced by race/ethnic minority students. Design: Longitudinal cohort from a broader mental health study. Setting: Fourteen schools in Texas (2011-2015). Participants: Sixth-grade participants (mean age 11.5 years) linked to publicly available data about their school (N=389). Methods: Generalized estimating equations tested main effects of density/diversity on depressive-anxious symptoms across student-reported race/ethnic identity, adjusting for student/school factors. Owing to statistically significant Latinx-group differences by acculturative stress, four unique identities were generated: NL-Black, low-stress Latinx, high-stress Latinx, and NL-White—referent. Points of convergence of student mental health profiles across density/diversity were explored. Main Outcome Measures: Self-reported depressive-anxious symptoms over a two-year period. Results: A significant interaction between density and student race/ethnicity was found (P