Dimensions of Ethnic Identity among African, Latin, and European American Adults

Ethno-racial identity development is a critical aspect of self-understanding and development for emerging adults. We examined an ethno-racial identity using a recent multidimensional measure designed for use across multiple ethnic and racial groups. We tested similarities and nuances in ERI endorsements across African American, Latin American, and European American college adults in the central US (n = 197, mean age = 19.0 years; 58.9% women). We found evidence reinforcing the structure of this multidimensional scale across groups. We found select mean-level differences in reported ethno-racial identity between our regional sample. We also found aspects of overlap and nuance between our current sample and a previous national sample of adults, showcasing the importance of contextual factors with our recruitment site. Lastly, we reinforced that dimensions of ERI were related to both mental health and well-being, with some dimensions of identity serving a more pronounced role among specific ethno-racial groups. We discuss the implications of these findings for appreciating measurement and the implications of multiple dimensions of ethnoracial identity in early adult development.