Identity, Belonging, and Psychological Well-Being Among Indigenous Minorities: The Case of Bedouin Young Adults

This cross-sectional study examined identity, belonging, perceived discrimination, and psychological well-being among 348 Bedouin young adults in Israel (ages 18–30; M = 20.8, SD = 3.7). The survey assessed identity endorsement and centrality, belonging to the Bedouin community, perceived discrimination, perceived identity threats, and psychological well-being. Latent class analysis identified three descriptive identity profiles: (1) Ambivalent/Moderate Bedouin (mixed identities with moderate endorsement; n = 158), (2) Bedouin-Centered (near-exclusive endorsement of Bedouin identity with limited endorsement of the other measured categories; n = 74), and (3) Integrated Religious-National Bedouin (high Bedouin, Arab, and Muslim endorsement; n = 116). The Integrated profile reported somewhat lower well-being, higher perceived discrimination, and more perceived identity threats in descriptive comparisons. In hierarchical regression, stronger belonging was associated with higher well-being and greater perceived discrimination with lower well-being after adjustment for demographics; identity profiles did not significantly improve prediction once these social experiences were included. The findings underscore that psychological well-being among Indigenous minority young adults is associated not only with identity configuration but also with the social conditions that enable belonging and reduce discrimination.