Abstract
The current study examined associations among religious and ethnic identity exploration and commitment, and psychological well-being (PWB) among 683 Latinx emerging adults. A subset of data collected in the Multi-Site University Study of Identity and Culture was analyzed, focusing on three measures: (a) Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM), (b) Religious Identity Measure (adapted from MEIM), and (c) Scales of Psychological Well-Being–Short Form. Correlations indicated that PWB was positively related to religious and ethnic identity commitment, not exploration. Regression analyses indicated that commitment to religious or ethnic identity were positively associated with PWB, while exploration of religious or ethnic identity were not associated with PWB. In addition, religious identity exploration moderated the relation between ethnic identity exploration and commitment and PWB. These findings have implications for efforts to support the development of ethnic and religious identity among Latinx emerging adults.
Highlights
The Latinx1 population is one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the UnitedStates with approximately 60.6 million individuals (Noe-Bustamante et al 2020a)
The present study examined relations among religious identity exploration and commitment, ethnic identity exploration and commitment, and psychological well-being in Latinx emerging adults
Because religious identity and ethnic identity are central cultural factors in the Latinx community (Gloria et al 2004), it is possible that Latinx emerging adults may commit to these identities due to ethnic socialization (Hughes et al 2006) or because they feel pressured to conform to the beliefs of their community (Neblett et al 2019)
Summary
The Latinx population is one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the UnitedStates with approximately 60.6 million individuals (Noe-Bustamante et al 2020a) (see note 1). As members of a marginalized group, Latinx individuals face challenges, such as discrimination and acculturative stress, which threaten their overall psychological well-being (Cano et al 2015). Latinx emerging adults (ages 18 to 29) are immersed in a tumultuous time marked by heightened identity development (Arnett 2015). High rates of mental health concerns (e.g., depression, anxiety) have been documented among emerging adults overall (American Psychiatric Association 2013), and Latinx emerging adults at even higher rates relative to other ethnic and age groups (Czeisler et al 2020). For Latinx individuals, religiosity promotes mental health (Wilson et al 2020), and ethnic identity development has been associated with psychological well-being (Smith and Silva 2011). The current study examined the associations between each form of identity (religious and ethnic) exploration and commitment and psychological well-being in Latinx emerging adults
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