Mexican American College Students’ Perceived Experiences of Discrimination, Ethnic Identity, and Adjustment

Abstract

Given the salience of sibling relationships for Mexican American individuals, we examined the role of sibling support in the associations between discrimination, ethnic identity (EI), and the adjustment of Mexican American college students ( N = 171, 80.7% female, Mage = 21.6 years). Findings revealed that under conditions of high sibling support, discrimination was positively associated with EI resolution, which, in turn, was positively associated with self-esteem. Under conditions of low sibling support, discrimination was negatively associated with EI affirmation, which, in turn, was positively associated with self-esteem. Under conditions of low sibling support, there was a negative association between discrimination and EI affirmation, which, in turn, was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the processes by which discrimination is associated with adjustment and the protective role of sibling support for Mexican American college students experiencing discrimination.