Defining Ethnic Minority Youth

The term ethnic minority youth is used to describe children or adolescents who are members of a U.S. racial or ethnic minority group. Childhood is defined as the time between birth and puberty when rapid physical and cognitive developments occur. Adolescence is the period of time between childhood and adulthood, typically around ages 11 to 19, characterized by the transition to physical, sexual, and psychological maturity, with an emphasis on the development of independence from family and a reliance on peers. Youth encompasses both terms and indicates a variety of developmental issues that differ from those of adults.

Ethnicity refers to a collective cultural heritage shared by a group of people who have a common ancestry. In the United States, the term ethnic ...