INTRODUCTION Few studies have considered the importance of kin or extended family relationships on future orientation. Additionally, some of the underlying processes linking social bonds to future orientation remain poorly understood. Based on theoretical work focused on attachment and identity, this study tested the potential mediating effects of ethnic identity on the links between close relationships (maternal closeness and kinship ties) and future orientation over time. Specifically, the study tested the extent to which ethnic identity mediated the relationship between maternal closeness and future orientation, and the relationship between kinship ties and future orientation. In addition, it tested whether sex moderated the relationships between maternal closeness/kinship ties and future orientation measures (education and career) as well as between ethnic identity and future orientation measures. METHODS Self-report data were collected twice, approximately 6 months apart, during a school year from a sample of rural African American adolescents (n = 274, Mage  = 14.81, SD = 1.48). RESULTS Findings provided evidence of mediation effects by ethnic identity on the relationships between maternal closeness and future orientation measures, and the link between kinship ties and future orientation measures. In addition, sex moderated the associations between ethnic identity and future education orientation as well as between maternal closeness and future education orientation; no moderation effects were found for the links with future career orientation measures. CONCLUSIONS Maternal closeness and kinship ties appear to be critical for supporting ethnic identity and for developing educational and career future orientation among rural African American youth.

中文翻译：

---

非洲裔美国农村青年的母性亲密、亲属关系和未来取向：种族认同的中介作用。

引言 很少有研究考虑到亲属或大家庭关系对未来方向的重要性。此外，将社会纽带与未来方向联系起来的一些潜在过程仍然知之甚少。基于关注依恋和认同的理论工作，本研究测试了种族认同对亲密关系（母亲亲近和亲属关系）和未来取向之间联系的潜在中介作用。具体而言，该研究测试了种族认同在多大程度上调节了母亲亲密度与未来取向之间的关系，以及亲属关系与未来取向之间的关系。此外，它测试了性别是否调节了母亲亲近/亲属关系与未来取向测量（教育和职业）之间以及种族认同和未来取向测量之间的关系。方法 自我报告数据在一个学年内从农村非洲裔美国青少年样本中收集两次，相隔约 6 个月（n = 274，Mage = 14.81，SD = 1.48）。结果 研究结果提供了种族认同对母亲亲密度与未来定向测量之间的关系以及亲属关系与未来定向测量之间的联系的中介效应的证据。此外，性别调节了种族认同与未来教育取向之间以及母亲亲密度与未来教育取向之间的关联；没有发现与未来职业定位措施的联系有调节作用。结论 母性亲密和亲属关系似乎对于支持种族认同以及在农村非裔美国青年中发展教育和职业未来方向至关重要。