Moderating the association between discrimination and adjustment: A meta-analysis of ethnic/racial identity.

Abstract

The detrimental effects of discrimination are well documented; however, the influence of ethnic/ racial identity (ERI) on this association is equivocal. There is theoretical and empirical support for both protective and detrimental effects of ERI. This meta-analysis includes 53 effect sizes from 51 studies and 18,545 participants spanning early adolescence to adulthood to synthesize the interaction of ERI and discrimination for adjustment outcomes. Consistent with existing metaanalyses, discrimination was associated with compromised adjustment; further, this effect was buffered by overall ERI particularly for academic and physical health outcomes. Different ERI dimensions and adjustment outcomes revealed important patterns. ERI exploration increased vulnerabilities associated with discrimination, particularly for negative mental health and risky health behaviors. The exacerbating influence of ERI exploration was strongest at age 24 years old, and more recent publications reported weaker exacerbating effects. In contrast, ERI commitment conferred protection. A composite score of ERI exploration and commitment also conferred protection against discrimination. Sample demographics mattered. The buffering effect of ERI commitment was stronger for Latinx (compared to Asian-heritage) individuals. The buffering effect of public regard was stronger for Asian-heritage (compared to African-heritage) individuals. For positive mental health outcomes, a composite score of ERI exploration and commitment had a stronger buffering effect for Latinx (compared to African-heritage) individuals. For risky health behaviors, Latinx individuals reported a stronger buffering effect of ERI (compared to Africanheritage and Asian-heritage) individuals. The current meta-analysis identifies gaps in the literature and offers suggestions for future research.

Intersectionality and Youth Identity Development Research in Europe

“…There is emerging evidence of a "migrant" identity among some youth in Europe (Svensson and Syed, 2019), but more research is needed to better understand its developmental implications and to situate it in relation to history, policies, and societal norms. While ethnic-racial identity (ERI) has been found sometimes to buffer and sometimes to exacerbate the negative impact of discrimination among ethnic-racial minority youth in the U.S. (with commitment often buffering and exploration often exacerbating) (for a recent meta-analysis, see Yip et al, 2019), how this process works in Europe is even less clear, since ERI is a much more fraught and underresearched concept in this context. To swap out a so-called migrant identity for ERI without a thorough examination of the power structures implicated in the construction of this social category would be doing a disservice to the individuals being studied.…”

Discrimination and Sleep Mediate Ethnic/Racial Identity and Adolescent Adjustment: Uncovering Change Processes With Slope‐as‐Mediator Mediation

“…The general consensus of the literature is that ERI confers psychological and adjustment benefits for adolescents (Rivas‐Drake, Seaton, et al, ; Rivas‐Drake, Syed, et al, ). Yet, in the context of ethnic/racial discrimination (ERD), research is beginning to suggest that certain dimensions of ERI confer protection, whereas others invite vulnerabilities (Yip, ; Yip, Wang, Mootoo, & Mirpuri, ). Furthermore, there is a growing interest in biopsychosocial investigations of the impact of ERD on youth development (Adam et al, ; Goosby, Straley, & Cheadle, ; Levy, Heissel, Richeson, & Adam, ), with particular interest in the ways in which ERD impacts sleep (Goosby, Cheadle, Strong‐Bak, Roth, & Nelson, ; Slopen, Lewis, & Williams, ; Zeiders et al, ).…”

“…We focus exclusively on the developmental components of ERI commitment and exploration because there are clear, theory‐driven hypotheses related to how these components should be related to psychological outcomes over time, and they show the most consistent moderating effects of discrimination in a recent meta‐analysis (). ERI commitment refers to the extent to which one feels attached and personally invested as a member of one’s ethnic/racial group (Phinney, ).…”

Discrimination, Life Stress, and Mental Health among Muslims: A Preregistered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…As described above, meta-analytic results do demonstrate a significant association between discrimination and mental health outcomes and potential moderators and mediators (e.g., Paradies et al, 2015;Yip et al, 2019), but individual studies that include both discrimination and life stressors demonstrate varied results (e.g., Mölsä et al, 2017). Research on the etiology of mental health problems for the general population tend to include life stressors and should be investigated in minority populations as well.…”

“…Thus, the importance of culture and social context on identity development is highlighted in Erikson's theory.The literature suggests multiple domains of cultural identity including, but not limited to, ethnic identity, national identity, identity integration, religious identity, and visible identity.However, there are many domains of identity and most studies only include one identity construct at the exclusion of others. It is unclear which aspects of identity may be more protective or if there are differential mitigating factors of identity for ethnic minorities (e.g., Running head: PREDICTORS OF MENTAL HEALTH FOR MUSLIMS ethnic identity commitment is a protective factor while ethnic identity exploration is an exacerbating factor;Yip, Wang, Mootoo, & Mirpuri, 2019;…”