Arab American Emerging Adults’ Ethnic Identity and Its Relation to Psychological Well-Being

Abstract

Despite Arab Americans’ increasing population in the United States, there is limited research concerning their psychological functioning. Ethnic identity (EI) has been found to positively predict the psychological well-being of various ethnic minority individuals. Therefore, in a sample of Arab American, emerging adult college students, we investigated how Phinney’s Multigroup EI Measure subscales (i.e., Other-Group Orientation (OGO), Affirmation & Belonging, EI Exploration, and EI Commitment) predicted components of the Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being (i.e., Self-Acceptance, Personal Growth, and Purpose in Life). Affirmation & Belonging positively predicted Self-Acceptance, EI Commitment predicted Purpose in Life, and OGO predicted Personal Growth. Additionally, EI Exploration negatively predicted Self-Acceptance. Findings were generally consistent with Social Identity Theory, Erikson’s theory, Phinney’s theory, and previous research. Results demonstrated the importance of studying components of Arab American emerging adults’ EI in relation to under-researched forms of psychological well-being.