Effects of Self-Esteem and Ethnic Identity

Abstract

We examined whether self-esteem and ethnic identity moderated or mediated the relationship between two types of acculturative stress (American-based and Mexican-based) and psychological well-being among 171 first-generation Mexican immigrant adults. American-based acculturative stress (ABAS) was defined as the stress related to the pressure from Anglo-Americans to improve English and adopt their cultural practices, while Mexican-based acculturative stress (MBAS) was related to the pressure from Mexican immigrants to improve Spanish and retain Mexican cultural practices. The findings suggested that self-esteem was negatively affected by acculturative stress, which, in turn, led to decreased psychological wellbeing. However, having high self-esteem alleviated the debilitating effects of acculturative stress against psychological well-being. In contrast to selfesteem, ethnic identity exacerbated the negative effect of acculturative stress on psychological well-being.

A social ecological study of psychological distress among recently immigrated, Latina young adults.

“…The present findings and previous research suggest that higher levels of acculturative stress are associated with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and general distress (e.g., Cano et al, 2015; Kim et al, 2014). Furthermore, this study’s findings are consistent with research indicating undocumented Latina immigrants experience greater amounts of psychosocial distress than their documented counterparts (e.g., Arbona et al, 2010; Martinez et al, 2015).…”

“…Acculturative stress has been indicated to result often from social and systemic circumstances such as undocumented immigration status, language barriers, poverty, and discrimination (Cabassa, 2003; Viruell-Fuentes, 2007). Low self-esteem and high levels of anxiety, depression, suicide, and alcohol abuse all have been found to be positively linked with acculturative stress among both immigrant and US-born Latina/o adults (Cano et al, 2015; Hovey, 2000; Kim, Hogge, & Salvisberg, 2014; Torres, 2010). However, there has been a lack of information on the impact of acculturative stress on young adult Latina women during their initial months in the US.…”

A two-way process? A qualitative and quantitative investigation of majority members’ acculturation

“…The negative cultural changehighlights that majority members also experience acculturative stress, which can be defined as challenges arising out of the meeting between cultural groups (Berry, 2006c). It can manifest itself as language difficulties, incongruent cultural values or other barriers to succeeding in the relevant context (Gil, Vega, & Dimas, 1994; E. Kim, Hogge, & Salvisberg, 2014;Lantrip et al, 2015;Yu et al, 2014). Some of the phrases participants mentioned fit this definition, such as difficulties communicating with immigrants, racism, discrimination, crime, gangs and worries.…”

Acculturation and adaptation issues among International students: Experiences from the largest Public University of Bangladesh

“…However, ethnic identity, a subjective sense of belonging to one's ethnic group, an exploration of one's ethnicity, i.e. having knowledge of and a preference for the group and being involved in ethnic group activities (Phinney, 1992;Phinney & Ong, 2007) also plays an important role in determining the acculturative stress an individual experience (Kim et al, 2014). The literature suggests that those with a stronger ethnic identity report higher levels of acculturative stress and that higher levels of ethnic identity exacerbate the negative effect of acculturative stress on psychological well-being (Kim et al, 2014;T.…”