Status inequalities, perceived discrimination, and eudaimonic well-being: do the challenges of minority life hone purpose and growth?
Considerable prior research has investigated links between racial/ethnic status and diverse aspects of mental functioning (e.g. psychological disorders, quality of life, self-esteem), but little work has probed the connections between minority status and eudaimonic well-being. Derived from existential and humanistic perspectives, eudaimonia describes engagement in life challenges and is operationalized with assessments of purpose in life, personal growth, autonomy, environmental mastery, self-acceptance, and positive relations with others. Using Midlife in the United States (MIDUS), a national survey of Americans aged 25-74, plus city-specific samples of African Americans in New York City and Mexican Americans in Chicago, minority status was found to be a positive predictor of eudaimonic well-being, underscoring themes of psychological strength in the face of race-related adversity. Perceived discrimination was found to be a negative predictor of eudaimonic well-being, although such effects were gender-specific: it was women, both majority and minority, with high levels of discrimination in their daily lives whose sense of growth, mastery, autonomy, and self-acceptance was compromised.
Ryff
Carol D
CD
Institute on Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. cryff@facstaff.wisc.edu
Keyes
Corey L
CL
Hughes
Diane L
DL
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011287:Prejudice; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012923:Social Class; D014481:United States