Ethnic Minority Identity and Psychological Well‐Being: The Mediating Role of Collective Self‐Esteem

Abstract

The study focuses on the psychological significance of ethnic minority identity among youth of Chinese origin living in the Netherlands. Relations of perceived group status and cultural values (allocentrism) with 3 measures of psychological well‐being are examined. In addition, the mediating role of components of collective self‐esteem (self‐evaluation of ethnic in‐group) is assessed. Collective self‐esteem and psychological well‐being depended more on perceived group status than on cultural values. Evidence was found primarily for the idea that components of collective self‐esteem act as a mediating variable between perceived social status and psychological well‐being. Different components function as mediators for different measures of well‐being, suggesting that there are different mechanisms through which ethnic identity factors influence different aspects of psychological functioning.