The interrelations among ethnic self-labels & ethnic identity

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between ethnic identity and ethnic self-labels, and their associations with adolescents’ psychosocial outcomes (perceived self-concept, self-reported grades, conduct disorder symptoms), in a diverse sample of 759 adolescents (52% females; 46% Latino, 35% Black, 13% White, and 6% of another race) aged 12 to 20 years in New York City). To further elucidate these relationships, the role of parental ethnic/racial socialization and age were also examined. Regression analyses revealed that ethnic identity, parental socialization, and age all had significant associations with each other and with psychosocial outcomes. There were no significant associations between ethnic self-labels and ethnic identity, behavioral symptoms or social competence. However, adolescents who used hyphenated ethnic self-labels reported higher academic achievement. Though the hypothesis that ethnic self-labels would predict adolescent outcomes was not supported, they suggest the need for greater accuracy in determining ethnic self-labels and delineation of ethnic identity.