The Development Of Ethnic Identity In 11 To 20 Years Old Chinese Adolescents

There are 56 ethnics in China, at the same time the 56 ethnics have formed a senior and new nation: Chinese Nation. Therefore, ethnic identity includes two parts in China: my own ethnic identity and Chinese Nation identity. The present research study wanted to explore the dimensions of ethnic identity, and investigate the present situation and the development of ethnic identity in 11-20 years old adolescents. What's more, it found the correlation between ethnic identity and ethnic differentiation, and also examined the impact of ethnic membership, school, peer, and context.Based on oversea and inland scales on ethnic identity , gathering items, and preliminary test (N=244, including N_han=185, N_min = 58, N_unk = 1), we developed a formal Ethnic Identity Scale.In formal test , we investigated the sample consisted of 1161(include N_han= 703, N_min=458) adolescents at average age of 11,14,17 and 20 in WuHan of Hubei province and BaiSe of Guangxi province. The results were:(1) EIS including my own ethnic identity (ab. Scale A) and Chinese Nation identity (ab. Scale B) had good reliability and validity. Scale A had 23 items, and Scale B had 21 items. Both had four dimensions: cognition, evaluation, feeling, and behavior. Moreover, each Scale A and Scale B had 6 additional items about the differentiation for out-group ethnic.(2) On the whole, 11 -20 years old adolescents had strong ethnic identity. The score in evaluation and feeling were much higher.(3) Han and minority had no significant difference in score of my own ethnic identity, however minority had higher scores than Han in Chinese Nation identity.(4) My own ethnic identity and Chinese Nation identity of 11-20 years old adolescents had moderate positive correlation.