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Published on: July 10, 2017
Deconstructing adolescent ethnicity: A longitudinal analysis of ethnic-racial identity development and
Margaret Z Booth1, Jean M Gerard2, Gina M Deom3
1School of Educational Foundations, Leadership, and Policy, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA.
Background:
The study of adolescent perceptions of their ethnicity/race has been investigated from an ethnic-racial identity (measurement) perspective or through an ethnic-racial classification lens.
Aims:
This study examines both, as it explores change in adolescents' ethnic-racial self-categorization; change in strength of ethnic-racial identity (ERI); and the relationship between change in self-categorization and strength of ERI. In so doing, it contributes to theorizing about the content and process of ERI formation.
Materials And Methods:
The longitudinal and mixed-methods study followed 732 middle and high school students biannually in a semi-rural, ethnically diverse school district. All students completed the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) in fall and spring each year and interviewed annually for qualitative inquiry.
Results:
The four waves of data demonstrated that: (1) 22% of students changed their ethnic-racial classification at least once; (2) Multiracial youth, boys, and 8th graders were significantly more likely to change self-classification compared to White youth, girls, and 10 th graders; (3) strength of ERI did not change over time, however, African American and Hispanic youth had the strongest ERI over time compared to the others; (4) change in self-classification was significantly related to change in strength of ERI, however, its direction varied by race of students.
Discussion:
While adolescent ethnic-racial identity development (ERI) appears to be related to ethnic-racial categorization, the direction of the relationship varies depending on ethnic self-categorization.
Conclusion:
Results contribute to theory building of ERI in relation to: content and process, group consciousness, certainty and clarity, and public regard.
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