Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science / Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, Vol 58(1), Jan 2026, 24-34; doi:10.1037/cbs0000441
Critical consciousness (CC) is an important process through which individuals analyze their experiences and social inequalities (critical reflection), develop a sense of empowerment to enact change (critical motivation), and take collective action to address injustices (critical action). CC is especially important for people of colour, who are directly disadvantaged by systems of racial inequality and may use CC to cope with such systems. Overall, little is known about CC patterns in emerging adults of colour and the existing literature is mixed regarding its mental health impacts. To address this gap, we identified distinct patterns of CC among a national sample of 308 Canadian Black and Latine emerging adults (Mage = 24.5, range = 18–29) through latent profile analyses, then examined associations with sociodemographic factors, discrimination, and mental health. Four CC profiles emerged: Critical Bystander (40.6% of the total sample), Critical Interpersonal Actor (31.2%), Liberated Actor (15.3%), and Critical Actor (13.0%). All profiles demonstrated high critical reflection and motivation but differed most notably in their critical action. The three “Actors” profiles reported higher odds of discrimination compared to Bystanders. Gender and race varied across profiles. Finally, Liberated Actors reported higher levels of depression and anxiety symptoms compared to all other profiles. Findings provide evidence of distinct CC patterns in emerging adulthood and highlight the importance of providing mental health support for Black and Latine emerging adults heavily involved in social justice work. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)