Ethnic identity, externalizing problem behaviour and the mediating role of self-esteem among Dutch, Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch adolescents.
The present study examined whether self-esteem mediates the relationship between two aspects of ethnic identity (i.e. ethnic identity exploration and ethnic identity commitment-affirmation) and externalizing problem behaviour in Dutch, Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch adolescents living in the Netherlands. A total number of 345 adolescents (115 Dutch, 115 Turkish-Dutch, 115 Moroccan-Dutch) with a mean age of 14.5 filled in questionnaires at school. Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch adolescents reported higher levels of both aspects of ethnic identity than their native Dutch counterparts, but there were no ethnic differences in self-esteem and externalizing problem behaviour. Only in the Moroccan-Dutch group was support found for the mediational model: stronger ethnic identity commitment-affirmation was related to a higher level of self-esteem, which, in turn, was related to a lower level of externalizing problem behaviour.
Wissink
Inge B
IB
Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. I.B.Wissink@uu.nl
Deković
Maja
M
Yağmur
Sengül
S
Stams
Geert Jan
GJ
de Haan
Mariëtte
M
D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco / Q000208:ethnology; D009426:Netherlands; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology