PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLES AS PREDICTORS OF PERCEIVED ETHNIC DISCRIMINATION AMONG MINORITY AND IMMIGRANT ADOLESCENTS

The occurrence of discrimination in the real world is difficult to det ermine objectively, as it is defined in part by intentions. The percep tion of discrimination may therefore be influenced by one's interpreta tion of the intentions of others. In order to examine psychological ch aracteristics that influence the perception of ethnic discrimination, 164 Armenian, Mexican American, and Vietnamese adolescents completed m easures of perceived discrimination (PD), self-esteem, mastery, depres sion/anxiety, intergroup competence, and ethnic identity, as well as d emographic variables. A path analysis showed that higher depression/an xiety scores and lower intergroup competence predicted more PD; depres sion/anxiety and intergroup competence were in turn predicted by self- esteem and mastery, respectively. Birthplace and socioeconomic status had an indirect effect on PD, via intergroup competence. The results s uggest the importance of psychological variables in the perception of discrimination.