Implications of Ethnic Identity Exploration and Ethnic Identity Affirmation and Belonging for Intergroup Attitudes Among Adolescents

Abstract

The present paper develops and tests two temporal models of the relationships among adolescents' ethnic identity exploration, ethnic identity affirmation and belonging, and attitudes toward their racial/ethnic ingroup and outgroups. Structural equation models for Euro-Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos revealed that all hypothesized relationships were positive and significant. The model in which ethnic identity exploration (at Time 1) predicts ethnic identity affirmation and belonging (at Time 2) was superior to the alternative model in which the relationship between them was reversed (i.e., affirmation and belonging at Time 1 predicts exploration at Time 2). Results (1) support the importance of exploration as a basis for establishing a secure attachment to one's ethnic identity, which, in turn, has positive implications for attitudes toward one's own group and other groups and (2) suggest that maintenance of ethnic identity is compatible with positive attitudes toward ethnic outgroups.While some research on adolescents shows that higher attachment to one's own group predicts more negative attitudes toward other groups (e.g., Masson & Verkuyten, 1993), other studies find this relationship to be positive (e.g., Phinney, Ferguson, & Tate, 1997). The latter researchers examined Latino and African American adolescents' attitudes toward familiar peers, in schools where these racial/ethnic groups were enrolled in roughly equal proportions and constituted the overwhelming majority. Using partial correlations, they showed that high levels of ethnic identity were associated with more positive ingroup attitudes, which were in turn associated with more positive outgroup attitudes, but ethnic identity was not directly associated with outgroup attitudes. To account for variation in the valence of such relationships across studies, Hinkle and Brown (1990) suggested that a strong ethnic identity may be positively or negatively related, or unrelated, to outgroup attitudes, depending on the circumstances.Of particular importance to understanding the relationship between ethnic identity and outgroup attitudes among adolescents may be the degree to which they have engaged in actively learning about their ethnic group. Roberts et al. (1999) characterized such ethnic identity exploration as a developmental process that informs the adoption of one's ethnic identity. A number of studies with adolescents (Roberts et al., 1999;Spencer, Icard, Harachi, Catalano, & Oxford, 2000;Yancey, Aneshensel, & Driscoll, 2001) NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript highly related to, but distinct from, other components of ethnic identity. Phinney and Ong (2007) suggested that ethnic identity exploration is unlikely without at least some level of attachment to one's ethnic group membership and that a commitment to one's group is expected to promote exploration of one's ethnicity. We agree.In the present study, we test two competing models of the relationship among ethnic identity exploration (EIE), eth...

Testing a model of minority identity achievement, identity affirmation, and psychological well-being among ethnic minority and sexual minority individuals.

“…No support was found for this model in either the ethnic minority or gay/lesbian samples. A recent study by Whitehead, Ainsworth, Wittig and Gadino (2009) further corroborates the direction of our predictions. Using a longitudinal design, Whitehead et al assessed the association between identity achievement and affirmation in an intergroup context where Euro-American, Asian American and Latino adolescents reported on their feelings towards their own ethnic group as well as those toward other ethnic groups.…”

Relations Between Narrative Construction of Ethnicity-Based Discrimination and Ethnic Identity Exploration and Pride

“…A status approach focuses on the extent to which individuals have explored the implications of their ethnicity and feel a sense of pride at being a member of a particular group (e.g., Phinney, 1992). Status research has suggested that ethnic identity emerges during adolescence and early adulthood, with ethnic identity exploration preceding the development of pride (Phinney, 2008;Syed & Azmitia, 2009;Whitehead, Ainsworth, Wittig, & Gadino, 2009). Longitudinal data have shown increases in exploration from early to middle adolescence, with few systematic changes during the high school years (French, Seidman, Allen, & Aber, 2006;.…”

“…More systematic and progressive changes appear among emerging adults during the transition to college and over the college years (Phinney, 2008;Syed, Azmitia, & Phinney, 2007). A strong ethnic identity-one based on exploration of one's traditions and culture and characterized by pride-is a positive force for individual well-being and for attitudes towards other groups (Phinney, 1992;Whitehead et al, 2009), with higher levels of exploration and pride being associated with multiple positive outcomes (Eccles, Wong, & Peck, 2006;Phinney, 1992;Syed & Azmitia, 2008Syed et al, 2007). Thus, understanding how individuals explore their identities and develop a sense of pride in their ethnic group is important.…”

Resilience to Discrimination Among Indigenous Sami and Non-Sami Populations in Norway: The SAMINOR2 Study

“…Autonomy is fostered by exercising few rules or regulations in daily life, hence much freedom is granted to explore the environment independently in order to learn how to self-manage well ("iesbirgejupmi") (Bongo, 2012). Such parental practices may represent a cultural competence that help sustain ethnic identity and even pride (Javo et al, 2003;Whitehead, Ainsworth, Wittig, & Gadino, 2009). A strong ethnic identity is generally found to buffer against harmful effects of discrimination (Yip, Gee, & Takeuchi, 2008).…”