Ethnic Identity and Self-Esteem: The Moderating Effect of Self-Structure
Location
CSU 201
Start Date
24-4-2006 8:45 AM
End Date
24-4-2006 10:15 AM
Student's Major
Psychology
Student's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Mentor's Name
Vinai Norasakkunkit
Mentor's Department
Psychology
Mentor's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description
Previous studies examining the predictive relationship between ethnic identity and self-esteem among Hispanic/Latino populations have revealed that in some cases, higher levels of ethnic identity have been associated with higher self-esteem, while in other cases, this relationship has been weak or non-existent. This study attempts to explain this inconsistency by examining the relationship between self-esteem and ethnic identity in Hispanic/Latino populations from a cross-cultural perspective, taking into account cultural models of self-structures. These culturally divergent selfstmctures have been established and well documented by cross-cultural studies between Eastern and Western cultures. Many Hispanic/Latino subgroups share cultural systems that emphasize the interdependent and collectivistic qualities that are found in many Eastern cultures. It follows that Hispanic/Latino culture may also share other implicit characteristics with Eastern cultures, including a more interdependent self-structure. For such a self-structure, both self-esteem and ethnic identity may be conceptualized differently than they are for an individualistic or independent self-structure. Thus, by including a measure of self-structure in the current study, it is expected that there will be an association between ethnic identity and self-esteem when the self-structure is more independent but not when the self-structure is more interdependent.
Ethnic Identity and Self-Esteem: The Moderating Effect of Self-Structure
CSU 201
Previous studies examining the predictive relationship between ethnic identity and self-esteem among Hispanic/Latino populations have revealed that in some cases, higher levels of ethnic identity have been associated with higher self-esteem, while in other cases, this relationship has been weak or non-existent. This study attempts to explain this inconsistency by examining the relationship between self-esteem and ethnic identity in Hispanic/Latino populations from a cross-cultural perspective, taking into account cultural models of self-structures. These culturally divergent selfstmctures have been established and well documented by cross-cultural studies between Eastern and Western cultures. Many Hispanic/Latino subgroups share cultural systems that emphasize the interdependent and collectivistic qualities that are found in many Eastern cultures. It follows that Hispanic/Latino culture may also share other implicit characteristics with Eastern cultures, including a more interdependent self-structure. For such a self-structure, both self-esteem and ethnic identity may be conceptualized differently than they are for an individualistic or independent self-structure. Thus, by including a measure of self-structure in the current study, it is expected that there will be an association between ethnic identity and self-esteem when the self-structure is more independent but not when the self-structure is more interdependent.
Recommended Citation
Harsma, Elizabeth A.. "Ethnic Identity and Self-Esteem: The Moderating Effect of Self-Structure." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 24, 2006.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2006/oral-session-A/2
