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Published on: May 10, 2019
Racial-ethnic self-schemas: Multi-dimensional identity-based motivation
1University of Michigan.
Journal of Research in Personality
|January 6, 2009
Summary
Understanding racial-ethnic self-schemas is key. Complex, multi-dimensional schemas positively impact academic engagement and well-being by focusing on inclusion within broader society.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Prior research on self-schemas primarily examined benefits in stereotyped domains.
- This study extends self-schema research by investigating racial-ethnic self-schemas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine racial-ethnic self-schemas as multidimensional constructs.
- To explore how multidimensional racial-ethnic self-schemas influence academic engagement and well-being.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of two samples: 8th graders (n=213) and 9th-12th graders (n=141).
- Investigated the net effects of multidimensional racial-ethnic self-schema components.
Main Results:
- Multidimensional racial-ethnic self-schemas predict within-group differences in academic engagement and well-being.
- Schemas emphasizing in-group and broader societal membership increased school engagement.
- Schemas focusing on inclusion in broader society decreased depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Racial-ethnic self-schemas are complex and multidimensional.
- The specific dimensions of racial-ethnic self-schemas significantly impact adolescent academic engagement and mental health.
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