| This study examines how a new construct, identity stability, mediates the relationship between ethnic identity, academic achievement and mental health in a sample of African-American (n = 80), Latino (n = 73), Chinese (n = 115), and White ( n = 69) boys and girls in 6th grade urban middle schools. Ethnic identity was assessed using the Regard scales of the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity; academic achievement was measured via self-reported grades and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale measured mental health. To measure identity stability, students were first primed to think of themselves in contexts of varying degrees of ethnic composition. Next, students were asked to circle descriptors of their behaviors and attitudes when in these contexts. Finally, students' descriptions of themselves in different contexts were then compared to calculate a score of identity stability---a measure of the consistency in students' attitudes and behaviors across the identities which were primed by asking students to think of themselves in contexts of differing levels of ethnic composition. Two predictions were tested: (a) identity stability mediates the relationship between ethnic identity, grades, and self-esteem; and, (b) the mediational relationship between ethnic identity, ethnic identity stability, and grades (but not self-esteem) varies in accordance with ethnicity and race. Results show that consistency in adolescents' behaviors across two contexts---with their same ethnic group and with people from different ethnic groups---mediates the relationship between ethnic identity public regard and self-esteem, such that having higher identity stability results in lower self-esteem. In other words, results show that it may be more beneficial to ethnic adolescents' self-esteem to have multiple identities that change in accordance with context than to have a more unified identity. No results were found for the mediating role of identity stability in the relationship between ethnic identity and grades. Results are discussed in terms of helping foster positive mental health and well-being for ethnic minority adolescents' who live in a context in which ethnic and racial discrimination persists. |
