Am I Mexican or Mexican American? Longitudinal Changes in Ethnic Label Use from Ages 10 to 26

Conversations surrounding ethnic identification are common for many minoritized individuals, and the seemingly simple act of endorsing a particular ethnic label has important implications for ethnic-racial identity, psychosocial adjustment, and wellbeing across the lifespan. While ethnic labeling is a key aspect of ethnic identity, as it can affirm and reflect one's self-identification, heritage and cultural values, little is known about how ethnic labeling choices change across time and developmental periods. Using data from the California Families Project, the current study examined the trajectory of Mexican-origin youth's propensity for identifying as Mexican or Mexican American across a 17-year timespan. The present study followed 674 youth from 5th grade (M_age = 10.86, SD = 0.50; 50% girls; 29% born in Mexico) to emerging adulthood (M_age = 26.13, SD = 0.67). Youth varied in their starting probability of identifying as Mexican American over Mexican, and the likelihood of endorsing the Mexican American label decreased from age 10-15 and increased from age 15-26. Nativity, English use, and Spanish use were associated with individual differences in starting probability and self-labeling patterns. Ethnic pride was associated with a lower likelihood of identifying as Mexican American during adolescence and early emerging adulthood (age 12-21), but not at ages 10, 23, or 26. Overall, results highlight that Mexican-origin youth's ethnic self-labeling choices evolve from childhood (age 10) through emerging adulthood (age 26), with nativity status and Mexican ethnic pride serving as the strongest, most consistent predictors of labeling across developmental stages.