The Role of Cultural Identity Clarity for Self-Concept Clarity, Self-Esteem, and Subjective Well-Being

The authors note that knowing oneself and experiencing oneself as clearly defined has been linked to positive self-esteem and psychological well-being; however, they point out, this association has been tested only at the level of personal identity. The authors propose that a clear cultural identity provides the individual with a clear prototype with which to engage the processes necessary to construct a clear personal identity and, by extension, to achieve self-esteem and well-being. Using undergraduate students - Anglophone Quebecers, Francophone Québécois, Chinese North Americans, and Aboriginal Canadians - as samples, the authors found that cultural identity clarity was positively related to self-concept clarity, self-esteem, and markers of subjective well-being. They found that the relationship between cultural identity clarity and both self-esteem and well-being was consistently mediated by self-concept clarity. The authors suggrst that interventions designed to clarify cultural identity might have psychological benefits for individuals facing cultural identity challenges.

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

Vol. 36

no. 7

883-897

2010

en