title: Ethnic identity and its relationship to self-esteem, perceived efficacy and prosocial attitudes in early adolescence.
abstract: This study examined the relationship of ethnic identity to self-esteem, perceived self-efficacy and prosocial attitudes. The sample included 100 male and female early adolescents, ranging from 11 to 13 years old, from different racial/ethnic backgrounds. Structural equations modeling was used to examine the latent structure of the multi-dimensional constructs and their interrelationships. Self-esteem and ethnic identity factors emerged which were related and which evidenced efficacy-mediated effects upon prosocial attitudes. The findings suggested that ethnic identity and self-esteem are distinct but related contributors to young people's perceptions of their ability to achieve academically, to find meaningful careers and to value prosocial means of goal attainment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fields
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Brookins
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Seay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011581:Psychological Tests; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012933:Social Identification; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*