Understanding the social identity of adolescents in the Indigenous Kodava Community of India

Abstract

The social identity development of adolescents in marginalized communities across the globe holds paramount significance in determining the overall well‐being of its future population. Focusing on one such community, the Kodavas, an Indigenous community in South India, this study aims to understand the shifting configurations of social identity based on the changing sociocultural structure and its implications on identity perception among the adolescents belonging to the Kodava community in Kodagu district in Karnataka, India. This study used a qualitative research design to develop an analytical framework of social identity formation and its transitions in the context of the Kodavas. Data were collected from 188 adolescents (47% boys, 53% girls) between 13 and 17 years (M age = 15 years), in the form of essay writing. The findings based on thematic analysis highlight the core traditional elements of Kodava identity, factors influencing the transition in identity, and its reflection in the contemporary period.

Toward a decolonial developmental science in Asia: Exploring adolescent development in communities from the majority world

“…Pandya and Bangaonkar (2024) note the unique aspects of adolescent moral reasoning in the Indian context and underscore the importance of indigenous methodologies in understanding and supporting adolescent moral development. Appachu and Singh (2024) highlight the core traditional elements of Kodava identity, factors influencing the transition in identity, and its reflection in the contemporary period.…”

Towards a decolonial developmental science: Adolescent development in the Majority World taking center stage

“…Studies also investigate family processes including family obligation (Yang et al, 2024), role of family in adolescents' occupational choices (Pease Dreibelbis et al, 2024), grandparenting (Tan et al, 2024), and parental socialization of adolescent emotions (Shi et al, 2024). Methodologically, studies utilize a variety of qualitative approaches (Appachu & Singh, 2024;Kerai et al, 2024;Pandya & Bhangaokar, 2024;Pease Dreibelbis et al, 2024;Santana & Ristum, 2024;Zambrano et al, 2024), mixed-methods approaches (Tan et al, 2024;Mahama et al, 2024;Shaikh & Sarin, 2024), prospective longitudinal designs (Pandya & Bhangaokar, 2024;Shi et al, 2024;Thomas et al, 2024), quantitative studies with variablecentered approaches to data analysis (Shi et al, 2024;Nwafor et al, 2024) as well as person-centered approaches (Thomas et al, 2024;Zhao et al, 2024). This methodological pluralism highlights the relevance of different approaches with various adolescent communities in the Majority World.…”

“…For example, Zhao et al (2024) examine identity and discrimination among Korean ethnic minority youth in China. Appachu and Singh (2024) explore social identity of youth in an indigenous community in South India that is typically not included in psychological research. Kara and Selcuk (2024) examine cumulative risk and armed conflict exposure among adolescents from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds in Eastern Turkey.…”