Ethnic/cultural identity salience and conflict styles in four US ethnic groups

This study examined the influence of ethnic background, ethnic identity, an d cultural identity on conflict styles among African Americans, Asian Ameri cans, European Americans, and Latino(a) Americans. Panethnic factor analysi s yielded four dimensions of ethnic identity: ethnic belonging, fringe, int ergroup interaction, and assimilation. A second-order factor analysis yield ed two clear identity dimensions: ethnic identity salience and cultural ide ntity salience. In addition, panethnic factor analysis yielded seven confli ct management styles: integrating, compromising, dominating, avoiding, negl ecting, emotional expression, and third party. Some of the major findings o f the study are: (1) African Americans have a stronger ethnic identity and a weaker cultural identity than the other ethnic groups; (2) European Ameri cans have a weaker ethnic identity than the other groups. (3) Latino(a) Ame ricans and Asian Americans use avoiding and third party conflict styles mor e than African Americans, and, Asian Americans use avoiding conflict style more than European Americans; (4) Individuals with a strong cultural identi ty (i.e., identifying with the larger US culture) use integrating, compromi sing, and emotionally expressive conflict styles more than individuals with a weak cultural identity; (5) Individuals with a strong ethnic identity (i .e., identifying with their ethnic memberships) use integrating conflict st yle more than individuals with a weak ethnic identity; (6) bicultural, assi milated, and traditional-oriented groups use integrating and compromising c onflict styles more than the marginal group, and the marginal group uses th ird party help more than the other three groups. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.