Osai Esohe R, Mattis Jacqueline S
School of Education, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University-Newark, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
J Res Adolesc. 2025 Jun;35(2):e70038. doi: 10.1111/jora.70038.
Part of the identity-formation process in adolescence includes acquiring a purpose. Although purpose is developmentally adaptive, it may be particularly valuable for Black adolescents who are navigating the complexities of development in high-stress, under-resourced environments. However, little is known about the individual and contextual factors associated with purpose among Black, urban-residing youth from low-income communities. This study uses multivariate regression to identify correlates of purpose in a sample of 132 Black adolescents (ages 14-18) living and attending school in a low-income, urban community. Study findings suggest that conscientiousness was positively associated with purpose at the individual level. Additionally, students who reported high motivation were more likely to indicate having a purpose. Related to contextual factors, students who felt they mattered to an adult in their school reported a higher sense of purpose. Contrary to expectations, students who felt their neighborhoods had less social capital reported a greater sense of purpose. This study aligns with a phenomenological understanding of identity development for Black youth and supports a greater understanding of positive development among Black low-income youth in urban neighborhoods.
青少年身份形成过程的一部分包括确立一个目标。尽管目标在发展过程中具有适应性，但对于在高压力、资源匮乏环境中应对复杂发展情况的黑人青少年来说，它可能特别有价值。然而，对于来自低收入社区的居住在城市的黑人青年中，与目标相关的个人和背景因素却知之甚少。本研究使用多元回归来确定在一个低收入城市社区生活和上学的132名黑人青少年（年龄在14 - 18岁）样本中目标的相关因素。研究结果表明，在个体层面，尽责性与目标呈正相关。此外，报告有高动机的学生更有可能表示有目标。与背景因素相关的是，那些觉得自己对学校里的一位成年人很重要的学生报告的目标感更高。与预期相反，那些觉得自己所在社区社会资本较少的学生报告的目标感更强。这项研究与对黑人青年身份发展的现象学理解相一致，并支持对城市社区中黑人低收入青年积极发展的更深入理解。
