PROJECT SUMMARY Ample evidence suggests that Black parents are the most salient figures in the lives of Black adolescents, with the greatest potential to protect and prepare them from the adverse effects of racism through unique, culturally specific parenting strategies.33, 45 Racism is increasingly becoming a public health concern which poses a risk for an increase in depression symptoms among Black Americans during adolescence and with recent studies indicating that Black fathers are salient and active participants in the parenting process.5, 25, 39 However, our understanding of patterns of parenting strategies among Black fathers is methodological limitations in longitudinal explorations and person-centered approaches to advance our understanding of the long-term effects of exposure to racism on depression symptomatology. The overall goal of this NRSA proposal is to provide a methodologically rigorous examination of the heterogeneity of Black fathers’ parenting strategies and its protective capabilities on the long-term consequences of racism experiences on depression symptomatology among Black adolescents by 1) investigating the longitudinal stability of paternal strategies subgroups, 2) examining the concurrent and longitudinal associations with depression symptoms, and 3) exploring the mediational and protection effects paternal strategies in the face of racism experiences among Black adolescents. This goal aligns with NICHD’s priority of understanding the impact of adverse experiences during childhood and adolescence on development and identifying periods where intervention could have optimal effects. These aims will be addressed through secondary data analysis including self-identified Black adolescents (i.e., ages 10 -19): (1) Fathers And Mothers In the Lives of Youth (FAMILY) and (2) Representations of Fatherhood: Roles, Awareness, and Meaning (ReFRAME). The specific aims are to 1) Identify heterogeneous profiles of cultural parenting strategies among Black fathers, 2) Test for the longitudinal stability of heterogeneous profiles of cultural parenting strategies among Black Fathers, 3) To examine the direct and indirect effects of Black fathers’ parenting strategies on the effects of Black adolescents’ racism exposure and depression symptoms, and Exploratory Aim) To examine the attenuating effects of latent clusters of Black fathers’ parenting strategies on the effects of racism exposure on depression symptoms. Anticipated findings can inform child development research across adolescence, a critical developmental period, and one of five key goals outlined in the current strategic plan of the NICHD. Moreover, the research and training outlined in this NRSA F32 postdoctoral fellowship application will equip me with the skills and support needed to pursue a successful career as an independent research scientist by providing me with knowledge of relevant theoretical models of parenting strategies among Black fathers and familial experiences...