Ethnic Self-Identification and Psychological Well-Being among Minority Youth in the Netherlands

In the present study the question is addressed as to whether among minority youth alternative ways of ethnic self-identification are equally healthy in terms of psychological well-being. Four different types of self-identification were distinguished: dissociative, assmilative, acculturative, and marginal. All four were found among Turkish and Chinese youth living in the Netherlands. As predicted, the Turkish subjects showed a stronger dissociative self-identification than the Chinese. Among the Turks an acculturative and especially a marginal orientation was associated with lower self-esteem. Among the Chinese both these orientations were associated with less self-concept stability, less happiness, and a less collectivistic orientation. Collectivism among the Chinese was also found to be positively associated with happiness, but at the same time, among the older subjects, with low self-concept stability.