Navigating Trauma and Mental Health: The Role of Social Support, Psychological Resilience, and Psychological Sense of Community Among Urban Adolescents of Color

Background: Urban adolescents of color experience disproportionately high rates of trauma, depression, anxiety, and substance use. Yet, limited research has examined how protective factors—such as social support, psychological resilience, and psychological sense of community (SOC) or community connectedness—interact to influence these outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 2002 adolescents (ages 12–18) from two urban high schools in Northeastern New Jersey. Participants completed validated measures assessing trauma (Child Trauma Screen), depression (PHQ-9A), anxiety (GAD-7), alcohol use, social support (MSPSS), sense of community (BSCS-Y), and psychological resilience (BRS). Multiple regression, logistic regression, and moderation analyses were used, controlling for demographic covariates. Results: Higher social support was significantly associated with lower trauma-related symptom severity, depression, anxiety, and alcohol use (p <.001). Sense of community was negatively related to anxiety (p <.001) but not to trauma or depression. Psychological resilience was positively associated with trauma reactions and distress (p <.001). Social support moderated these relationships, offsetting some of the impact of psychological resilience on trauma, depression, and anxiety, and reducing alcohol use risk at higher support levels. Conclusion: Findings highlight the protective influence of social support and suggest that psychological resilience among youth of color may reflect survival-based adaptation rather than the absence of distress. Prevention efforts should strengthen social support and SOC within culturally responsive, trauma-informed school and community frameworks.