Identity configurations and well‐being during normative cultural conflict: The roles of multiculturals’ conflict management strategies and academic stage

Abstract

Multiculturals encounter normative cultural conflicts (intrapersonal conflicts between their cultures’ norms). Yet, no research has examined how these conflicts are managed, nor their antecedents and repercussions. This article examined how these conflicts are managed using two sets of conflict management strategies (active and agreeable) and tested whether they mediate the associations between identity configurations and well‐being. Also, as the benefits of having integrated selves typically increase in later life stages, this article examined whether the associations between identity configurations and well‐being differ between earlier (pre‐university) and later academic stages (university). In Study 1 (N = 235), active strategies mediated the link between identity integration and well‐being, whereas agreeable strategies mediated the link between compartmentalization and ill‐being. In Study 2 (N = 241), these results were replicated. Study 2 further showed that the association between identity integration and well‐being was stronger among university than pre‐university students. Implications of these results are discussed.

Perceived discrimination and psychological distress among immigrants to Canada: The mediating role of bicultural identity orientations

“…There has been plenty of interest in the mechanisms whereby discrimination affects well-being, with much research focusing on the role of social identity, especially ethnic and national identity (Cvetkovska et al, 2020; Hakim et al, 2018). Far less is known, however, about how people configure their multiple identities, and how different identity configurations relate to discrimination (Yampolsky & Amiot, 2016) and well-being (Arias-Valenzuela et al, 2019). Furthermore, no previous research has explored if specific bicultural identity orientations uniquely mitigate or aggravate the effect of discrimination on well-being.…”

Dual identity, bicultural identity integration and social identity complexity among Muslim minority adolescents

“…BII conflict, for example, seems to be positively associated with identity exploration (Huynh et al, 2018), active engagement, personal growth (Jones & Hynie, 2017), and more creative and complex ways of thinking (Tadmor & Tetlock, 2006). Moreover, higher levels of blendedness are associated with more adaptive conflict management strategies and well-being (Arias-Valenzuela et al, 2019), and a higher motivation to integrate (Ward et al, 2018). Yet, whether there are differences in adjustment between "religiouslyoriented" and "equally" strong dual identifiers remains a question for future research.…”