The ecology of Hispanic ethnic identity

This research proposed and examined an ecological model of Hispanic ethnic identity. Individual (i.e., level of acculturation), family (i.e., family ethnic socialization), and social context (i.e., minority status stress) factors were hypothesized to predict ethnic identity. In turn, ethnic identity was hypothesized to influence self-esteem, and self-esteem was hypothesized to influence depression. In addition, several relationships among the individual, family, and social context factors were hypothesized.;Participants were 159 Hispanic college students at a large midwestern university. Participants completed self-report measures on level of acculturation, family ethnic socialization, minority status stress, ethnic identity, self-esteem, and depression. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted using LISREL to test the hypothesized relationships in the ethnic identity model. Post hoc analyses were conducted to improve the overall fit of the ethnic identity model.;The overall fit of the respecified ethnic identity model was excellent (chi2 = 63.66, df = 54, p = 0.17; GFI = 0.94, NFI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.034). Direct significant, positive relationships were demonstrated from biculturalism to ethnic identity (beta = 0.43); family ethnic socialization to ethnic identity (beta = 0.45); ethnic identity to self-esteem (beta = 0.32); biculturalism to minority status stress (beta = 0.21); minority status stress to family ethnic socialization (beta = 0.48); family ethnic socialization to biculturalism (beta = 0.39); and minority status stress to depression (beta = 0.23). Direct significant negative relationships were demonstrated from self-esteem to depression (beta = -0.63) and minority status stress to self-esteem (beta = -0.36). Significant indirect relationships from the individual, family, and social context factors to ethnic identity, self-esteem, and depression were also found.;Results of this research support an ecological conceptualization of Hispanic ethnic identity and demonstrate the mediating role of ethnic identity in the relationships between the three ecological levels and mental health. Findings challenge cognitive developmental models of ethnic identity development, which conceptualize ethnic identity formation as an internal process of self-exploration. Study limitations are addressed and suggestions for future research are given.