Cultural Identity Conflict and Psychological Well-Being in Bicultural Young Adults

The present study examined the relationship between cultural identity conflict and psychological well-being, as well as the role of self-concept clarity and self-esteem in mediating this linkage. Elevated cultural identity conflict was hypothesized to be associated with lower psychological well-being via both (lower) self-concept clarity and (lower) self-esteem, with self-concept clarity preceding self-esteem. In a cross-sectional design, 473 bicultural young adults (age range, 18–35) completed an online questionnaire assessing cultural identity conflict, self-concept clarity, self-esteem, emotional distress, psychopathological symptoms, and satisfaction with life. Correlation analyses revealed that elevated cultural identity conflict was positively associated with emotional distress and psychopathological symptoms, and negatively associated with satisfaction with life. Mediation analyses indicated that these associations were mediated by lower self-concept clarity and lower self-esteem.

 

The results support the importance of interventions that foster the development of skills in bicultural young adults to obtain more self-concept clarity and promote self-esteem and psychological well-being.

Reference: 
Rahim, Haza F. MSc; Mooren, Trudy T.M. PhD; van den Brink, Femke PhD; Knipscheer, Jeroen W. PhD; Boelen, Paul A. PhD | 2021
In: Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease ; ISSN: 0022-3018 | april
https://journals.lww.com/jonmd/Abstract/9000/Cultural_Identity_Conflict_and_Psychological.99121.aspx
Epub ahead of print DOI : 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001332
Keywords: 
Cultural Values, Ethnic Identity, Patient Satisfaction, Psychopathology, Quality of Life, Research, Self Concept, Self Esteem, Stressors, Young Adults
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