title: Relationships among identity, perceived discrimination, and depressive symptoms in eight ethnic-generational groups.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Examine whether personal identity confusion and ethnic identity, respectively, moderate and/or mediate the relationship between perceived discrimination (PD) and depressive symptoms (DS) in eight ethnic-generational groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 9665 students (73% women; mean age 20.31) from 30 colleges and universities from around the United States. Cross-sectional data were gathered through a confidential online survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Across groups, PD and ethnic identity levels varied, while identity confusion levels were mostly similar. Neither identity confusion nor ethnic identity moderated the PD-DS relationship for any groups. However, identity confusion was a partial mediator for immigrant and nonimmigrant Hispanic/Latino(a) and White/European American participants. Identity confusion also suppressed the PD-DS relationship for Black/African American participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results highlight the need for additional research on identity confusion's role in the PD-distress link and the importance of addressing ethnicity and generation status when examining the effects of PD on college students' mental health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA. rdonova4@kennesaw.edu
authors.forename: Roxanne A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.forename: Que-Lam
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.forename: Irene J K
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Su Yeong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D012938:Social Perception; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: depression; ethnic identity; ethnic minorities; generation; perceived discrimination; personal identity