Ethnic Identity and Perceived Stress Among Ethnically Diverse Immigrants

Abstract

Recent empirical research suggests that having a strong ethnic identity may be associated with reduced perceived stress. However, the relationship between perceived stress and ethnic identity has not been tested in a large and ethnically diverse sample of immigrants. This study utilized a multi-group latent class analysis of ethnic identity on a sample of first and second generation immigrants (N = 1603), to determine ethnic identity classifications, and their relation to perceived stress. A 4-class ethnic identity structure best fit the data for this immigrant sample, and the proportion within each class varied by ethnicity, but not immigrant generation. High ethnic identity was found to be protective against perceived stress, and this finding was invariant across ethnicity. This study extends the findings of previous research on the protective effect of ethnic identity against perceived stress to immigrant populations of diverse ethnic origins.

Undoing resilience: immigrant status and poor health following incarceration

“…The cultural capital available to immigrants includes a protective ethnic identity, cultural flexibility, and higher rates of family involvement (Perreira, Chapman, & Stein, 2006). With respect to ethnic identity, adherence to heritage cultural values can enhance immigrants' sense of self, bolster the ability to self-select into positive life circumstances (Espinosa et al, 2018), and inspire ethnic pride and positive self-esteem (Cardoso & Thompson, 2010). Cultural flexibility can be influenced by the multiculturalism of immigrants as they adapt to a new host culture.…”

“…Growing literature illustrates that immigrants to the United States fare better when confronting adversity than native-born individuals. Research routinely shows that foreign-born persons are better able to overcome trauma, disadvantage, and other life stressors, and that they generally have better health outcomes than U.S.-born individuals (DeJonckheere, Vaughn, & Jacquez, 2017 ; Espinosa et al, 2018 ; Marks, Ejesi, & Coll, 2014 ). This pattern is referred to as the “immigrant paradox.” Although there are several explanations for the paradox, one contributing factor is that foreign-born persons have enhanced cultural capital and strong family ties to draw from in times of hardship (Fergus & Zimmerman, 2005 ; Motti-Stefanidi, 2018 ).…”

“…Growing literature illustrates that immigrants to the United States fare better when confronting adversity than native-born individuals. Research routinely shows that foreign-born persons are better able to overcome trauma, disadvantage, and other life stressors, and that they generally have better health outcomes than U.S.born individuals (DeJonckheere, Vaughn, & Jacquez, 2017;Espinosa et al, 2018;Marks, Ejesi, & Coll, 2014). This pattern is referred to as the "immigrant paradox."…”

Perceptions of general and postpresidential election discrimination are associated with loss of control eating among racially/ethnically diverse young men

“…These findings highlight the significant variability in the link between ethnic identity and health/health behaviors (Gee et al, 2009;Pascoe & Smart Richman, 2009) and underscore the importance of examining these patterns within racial/ethnic groups. Ethnic identity is fairly consistently associated with positive well-being (Smith & Silva, 2011) and selfesteem (Espinosa et al, 2016) across many racial/ethnic groups. As such, higher ethnic identity may, at a broad level, facilitate engagement in more healthy behavioral and emotional patterns.…”

Effects of Bicultural Identity Integration and National Identity on COVID-19-Related Anxiety Among Ethnic Minority College Students: The Mediation Role of Power Values

“… 52 In addition, strong ethnic identity is related to the reduction of depressive symptoms 53 and to the reduction of perceived stress among ethnic minority immigrants. 54 Thus, we propose hypothesis two: National identity is associates with COVID-19-related anxiety.…”