What Does Being Filipino American Mean? The Influences of Cultural Identity on Well Being Considering the Moderating Effects of Ethnic Contex

Research has shown that Asian Americans have more modest increases in self-esteem and well being across emerging adulthood than their European American counterparts; cultural identity may play a role in this difference. This study examined four main questions. First, is there a relationship between cultural identity content/process and outcomes (i.e. self-esteem, satisfaction with life, and religiosity)? Second, are the outcomes related to progression through emerging adulthood? Third, can cultural identity content/process explain these differences in outcomes across emerging adulthood? Fourth, does ethnic context influence the relationship between cultural identity and outcomes? A sample of Filipino American emerging adults (N = 249) completed online surveys and a subset (n = 30) participated in phone interviews. Results indicate there are relationships between cultural identity and outcomes. Cultural identity commitment and Filipino identity were both positively correlated with all outcomes. Cultural identity exploration was positively correlated with self-esteem and religiosity, but not with satisfaction with life. American identity was positively correlated with self-esteem and satisfaction with life, but not religiosity. Bivariate correlations also show that self-esteem and satisfaction with life tended to be lower earlier in emerging adulthood and higher at later points in emerging adulthood. Mediation analyses show that cultural identity commitment and Filipino identity partially explain why outcomes improved across emerging adulthood, but American identity was not a significant mediator for any of the outcome variables. Lastly, cultural identity exploration was not a consistent mediator; it mediated the relationship between progression through emerging adulthood and self-esteem, but not between progression through emerging adulthood and satisfaction with life or religiosity. The qualitative findings suggest that cultural identity exploration may be inconsistent as a mediator because exploration is complicated. Exploration can either be triggered by one's surroundings or actively sought. In addition, though exploration can be exciting it can also be a struggle and may result in conflict with friends and family. The moderated mediation analyses indicate that ethnic context is not a significant moderator, but this does not mean that ethnic context is not an important construct to consider. On the contrary, qualitative findings suggest that ethnic context may not have been a statistically significant moderator because of the tremendous variability in participants' reactions to and experiences within their ethnic context. Ultimately, this study contributes to the field by showing that the complicated nature of cultural identity explorations Filipino Americans experience may influence their outcomes. It also suggests the influence of ethnic context is complicated and can differ from individual to individual. More research should be conducted to have a more comprehensive understanding of cultural identity and its influences on outcomes as well as the nature of its relationship with ethnic context.