What question did this study set out to answer?

This review aims to identify and synthesize interventions targeting racial stress and trauma among Black youth since the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 28, 2026

Racial Identity and Racial Socialization: A Scoping Review of Clinical, School-Based, and Community Interventions and Trauma Among Black Youth Since COVID-19

Key Points

This review aims to identify and synthesize interventions targeting racial stress and trauma among Black youth since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conducted a scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
Searched PsycINFO, PubMed, and Academic Search Complete for studies published from 2020 to 2024.
Included studies focused on Black youth with therapeutic or psychosocial skill components.
Five studies met inclusion criteria, showing positive outcomes in family communication about race and enhanced coping strategies.
Interventions that engaged caregivers and incorporated cultural arts were particularly effective in fostering resilience and racial pride.
The findings indicate a pressing need for scalable interventions that address psychological and sociocultural aspects of racial stress.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the heightened racialized sociopolitical unrest following the murder of George Floyd, intensified longstanding structural racism, exacerbating racial stress, and trauma among Black youth. This scoping review synthesizes recent literature on culturally relevant interventions developed or implemented since the pandemic’s onset to address these challenges. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Academic Search Complete were searched for studies published from 2020 to 2024. Eligible interventions targeted Black youth from childhood through emerging adulthood, addressed racial stress or trauma, and included a therapeutic component or psychosocial skill-building component. Five studies met inclusion criteria, spanning family-based prevention programs, school-based counseling interventions, and culturally grounded arts-based and identity-focused approaches. Across studies that included empirical evaluation, reported outcomes included improved family communication about race, enhanced coping strategies, increased racial pride, strengthened ethnic–racial identity, and improved psychological functioning. Other studies contributed qualitative insights or programmatic frameworks relevant to culturally responsive practice. Interventions that supported caregiver-driven racial socialization, incorporated culturally grounded arts-based stress management, or intentionally fostered ethnic–racial identity development showed the most promise. Approaches involving caregivers or community engagement reinforced protective racial socialization messages and promoted resilience. Findings highlight the urgent need for scalable, sustainable, and culturally responsive interventions that address both the psychological and sociocultural dimensions of racial stress. An additional priority is evaluating these approaches with youth presenting more clinically severe or complex symptom profiles, as many studies do not assess severity in depth. Future research should rigorously evaluate these models longitudinally, refine culturally relevant strategies, and explore diverse socialization agents to optimize well-being among Black youth.

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