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Cabrera's work featured on MedicalXpress.com

Family cohesion, discipline, and strong ethnic identity help low-income kids succeed

A new study by MPRC Faculty Associate Natasha Cabrera explores areas of developmental strength in minority children: social competence, language, and ethnic identity. Low-income minority children often have an enhanced ability to self-regulate their emotions, which helps them to avoid antisocial behavior. In addition, African American children have better oral narrative skills and greater narrative comprehension than many of their peers, which could help them succeed in the classroom. And development of a strong ethnic identity promotes higher self-esteem and healthier relationships.

Cabrera’s findings fly in the face of the common perception that low-income minority children lack the necessary skills to succeed in life. In fact, families that provide strong orientation and obligation, discipline, and cultural socialization play a critical role in encouraging children to self-regulate and develop higher self-esteem that helps to protect them from the effects of discrimination and prejudice, Cabrera found. Knowledge about how minority families and communities support children’s development can help educators and policymakers design better programs and interventions.

Read the story on MedicalXpress

Read about Cabrera's work on Afro.com