Ethnic identity, achievement, and psychological adjustment: Examining risk and resilience among youth from immigrant Chinese families in Canada.
Ethnic identity, achievement, and psychological adjustment were examined among 95 youth from immigrant Chinese families in Canada (mean age 12 years). Utilizing cross-sectional data, promotive effects of ethnic identity were observed; higher ethnic identity was associated with above average achievement and self-esteem and below average levels of depressive symptoms. Vulnerability effects of ethnic identity were fewer; lower ethnic identity was associated with above average depressive symptoms and, for males only, below average self-esteem. Findings also suggested that higher ethnic identity might buffer the stress of poor achievement, indicating a possible protective effect of ethnic identity. Although requiring replication, these preliminary findings illustrate the utility of adopting a risk and resilience framework and suggest the value of promoting strong ethnic identities.
Costigan
Catherine L
CL
Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 3P5, Canada. costigan@uvic.ca
Koryzma
Céline M
CM
Hua
Josephine M
JM
Chance
Lauren J
LJ
D000124:Achievement; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012933:Social Identification; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires