Self‐esteem, ethnic identity, and behavioral adjustment among Anglo and Chicano adolescents in West Texas

Abstract

This study provides a comparison of similarities and differences with respect to ethnic identity between Anglo and Chicano adolescents from Texas. A path analysis model was used to test a theoretical assumption concerning proposed antecedents and consequences of self‐esteem. Research instruments included the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale, the Semantic Differential (scales for Myself and My Ethnic Group) and the McGuire White Measure of Social Status. Results were consistent with the interpretation that there is a relationship between being Chicano and having lower self‐esteem, lower behavioral adjustment, and higher ethnic esteem. The prediction that ethnic esteem would mediate between ethnic group and self‐esteem was upheld. Variables such as ethnic group membership per se and sex appear as or more important to the prediction of behavioral level. Clinical implications include recognizing that Chicanos low in self‐esteem or behavioral adjustment should not automatically be considered unusual. The problems faced by this group are considered as having something in common with other groups of people who have more problems, lesser status, fewer resources, and fewer sources of available help.

Ethnic discrimination and global self-worth in early adolescents: The mediating role of ethnic self-esteem

“…Not only was mediation found for the Turkish, Moroccan and Surinamese early adolescents; it was also found among their Dutch peers. This suggests that minority status does not have a moderating effect on how negative ethnic peer interactions influence global self-worth and how ethnic self-esteem is implicated in this process (see also Grossman, Wirt, & Davids, 1985;Verkuyten & Lay, 1999). This result suggests a "one model fits all" approach to studying early adolescents in multiethnic settings and is in agreement with multifaceted or hierarchical models of the self.…”

Race and Gender Influences on Adjustment in Early Adolescence: Investigation of an Integrative Model

“…A positive racial or ethnic identity has been found to be associated with more favorable scores on indices of adjustment in several studies of older adolescents and adults (Bates, Beauvais, & Trimble, 1997;Brook, Whiteman, Balka, Win, & Gursen, 1998;Grossman, Wirt, & Davids, 1985;Munford, 1994;Pyant & Yanico, 1991;Rotheram-Borus, 1990;Zimmerman, Ramirez, Washienko, Walter, & Dyer, 1998). Paralleling research in the stress area, it is less clear whether racial or ethnic identity retains a similar protective function at earlier stages of development.…”

Constructing a minority group identity out of shared rejection: the case of international students

“…Group identification provides individuals with a social and psychological 'place' within which they can establish a sense of meaning and identity (Simon, 1999;Spears, Jetten, & Scheepers, 2002). Minority group identification is correlated with psychological adjustment among a number of different kinds of stigmatized groups (Bat-Chava, 1994;Grossman, Wirt, & Davids, 1985;Munford, 1994;Phinney, 1990;Rowley, Sellers, Chavous, & Smith, 1998), and experimental work has found that the mere presence of similarly stigmatized others raises self-esteem and lowers depression and anxiety (Frable, Pratt, & Hoey, 1998;McKenna & Bargh, 1998). Furthermore, regardless of the ingroup's status, identification with ingroup social categories is associated with positive well-being (Branscombe & Wann, 1991).…”