Exploration of the ethnic identity among Russian-speaking immigrant adolescents in Finland

This study examined the process of ethnic identity exploration among Russia n-speaking immigrant adolescents in Finland. The ethnic identity of immigra nts was assessed by ethnic self-identification, referring to social categor ies in which individuals claim membership, as well as by degree of identity , indicating the personal meaning associated with these social categories. There were clear differences in the importance that these immigrants gave t o the Russian and Finnish components of their ethnic identity at different stages of their residence in Finland but not in their ethnic self-identific ation, which remained stable over time. Through these results, the importan ce of distinguishing different aspects of ethnic identity (identification o f and identification with) was further emphasized. The results empirically Verify and specify the various stages of the process of ethnic identity exp loration among young immigrants.