THE EFFECTS OF ETHNIC-IDENTITY, ETHNICITY, AND GENDER ON ADOLESCENT WELL-BEING

Ethnic identity was conceptualized into three categories: (1) unexamin ed, (2) searching for identity, and (3) achieved ethnic identity Analy ses of data collected from 12,386 adolescents showed that ethnic ident ity is an important qualifier of the relationships between independent variables of ethnicity and gender, and dependent variables of global self-esteem, academic self-confidence, and purpose in life. Whites and Native Americans had lower ethnic identity and Blacks and Hispanics h ad higher ethnic identity. Asians and respondents of mired ethnicity h ad intermediate levels of ethnic identity. The greater the ethnic iden tify, the higher the self-esteem, purpose in life and self-confidence. This mechanism applies to ethnic minorities and to women among whom a chieved ethnic identity may blunt the negative effects of social denig ration and stereotyping, and it applies to whites, too. The paper argu es that multiculturalism in the schools can increase ethnic identity.