Internalized racism, or the acceptance of negative stereotypes about one’s own racial group, is associated with psychological distress; yet, few studies have explored the longitudinal impact of internalized racism on the psychological well-being of African American emerging adults. Furthermore, racial identity’s role as a protective factor in the context of internalized racism remains unclear. This study examined the longitudinal impact of internalized racism on psychological distress (depressive and anxiety symptoms) and the moderating role of racial identity beliefs among 171 African American emerging adults. Full cross-lagged panel models revealed no main effects of internalized racism beliefs on psychological distress. However, several racial identity beliefs moderated the relationship between internalized racism beliefs and changes in psychological distress over a year later. Initial levels of alteration of physical appearance, internalization of negative stereotypes, and hair change internalized racism beliefs were related to subsequent psychological distress, but only for those with certain levels of racial centrality, private regard, public regard, and assimilationist, humanist, and nationalist ideology beliefs. These findings suggest that, over time, internalized racism and racial identity beliefs can combine to influence the psychological well-being of African American emerging adults.

内化的种族主义，或接受对自己种族群体的负面刻板印象，与心理困扰有关；然而，很少有研究探讨内在种族主义对非裔美国新兴成年人心理健康的纵向影响。此外，种族身份作为内在种族主义背景下的保护因素的作用仍不清楚。本研究调查了内在种族主义对心理困扰（抑郁和焦虑症状）的纵向影响以及种族认同信念在 171 名非裔美国新兴成年人中的调节作用。完整的交叉滞后面板模型显示，内化的种族主义信念对心理困扰没有主要影响。然而，一年多后，一些种族认同信念缓和了内在种族主义信念与心理困扰变化之间的关系。最初的外貌改变、负面刻板印象的内化和头发变化内化的种族主义信念与随后的心理困扰有关，但仅适用于具有一定程度的种族中心、私人关注、公众关注和同化主义、人文主义和民族主义的人意识形态信仰。这些研究结果表明，随着时间的推移，内化的种族主义和种族认同信念可以结合起来影响非裔美国新兴成年人的心理健康。和头发变化内化的种族主义信念与随后的心理困扰有关，但仅适用于具有一定程度的种族中心地位、私人尊重、公众尊重以及同化主义、人文主义和民族主义意识形态信仰的人。这些研究结果表明，随着时间的推移，内化的种族主义和种族认同信念可以结合起来影响非裔美国新兴成年人的心理健康。和头发变化内化的种族主义信念与随后的心理困扰有关，但仅适用于具有一定程度的种族中心地位、私人尊重、公众尊重以及同化主义、人文主义和民族主义意识形态信仰的人。这些研究结果表明，随着时间的推移，内化的种族主义和种族认同信念可以结合起来影响非裔美国新兴成年人的心理健康。