J Child Adolesc Trauma. 2025 Apr 21;18(3):719-732. doi: 10.1007/s40653-025-00699-w. eCollection 2025 Sep.
ABSTRACT
Examine differences in historical risk factors and psychopathology among adolescents in mental health (MH) treatment across race and gender groups. Logistic Regression and ANCOVA were utilized to examine group differences and race by gender interactions in exposure to trauma and psychopathology among 1769 adolescents ages 12-17 years (M age = 15.26 years, 42.7% male, 54.5% White, 19.7% Multiracial, 13.1% Black, 9.6% Hispanic/Latinx, 2.1% Asian) in MH treatment. Black and Multiracial youth were more likely to have an arrest (OR = 3.66 and 2.09, p <.001) and adjudication (OR = 2.36 and 2.35, p <.001) history than White youth. White youth were more likely to have a history of suicidal ideation (OR = 0.41, p <.001) and self-injurious behavior (OR = 0.33, p <.001) than Black youth. Black youth had greater trauma exposure (p =.001), but lower internalizing (p <.001) and depression (p =.032) than White youth. Multiracial youth had higher internalizing than Black youth (p <.001), but lower than White youth (p =.024). Significant race by gender interactions showed female youth-of-color had greater trauma exposure and externalizing than White or Asian female youth. Findings suggest different potential pathways for MH treatment referral for adolescents by race and gender. White youth were more likely to display “individual” level risk (i.e. SIB, suicidality, depression) while youth-of-color were more likely to report “contextual” risk (i.e. system contact, trauma). Female youth-of-color had particularly complex trauma and clinical profiles at treatment entry.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40653-025-00699-w.
PMID:40955392 | PMC:PMC12433418 | DOI:10.1007/s40653-025-00699-w
