A mental health paradox? Examining the impact of child protective services on young adult mental health by race/ethnicity

This study examines the relationship between race/ethnicity, child protective services (CPS) involvement, and mental health using logistic regression with data from the Futures for Families & Child Wellbeing Study. The results suggest CPS involvement is associated with an increase in anxiety and depression in the overall sample and in depression for Black and Hispanic/Latino young adults. However, in a CPS-involved sub-sample Black young adults were less likely to experience anxiety than their White counterparts. Results indicate long-term harmful effects of system involvement on mental health, especially for young adults of color, and a mental health paradox in Black emerging adults.