Abstract

The study examined the relation between ethnic regard, a component of ethnic identity, and discrimination, and their contribution to school social adjustment among 340 Canadian youth in grades 8-9. Furthermore, the study examined how the connection between ethnic regard and school social adjustment varies as a function of ethnic group membership. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that higher levels of ethnic regard were linked to higher levels of adjustment at school. However, further analyses showed that youth reporting high levels of ethnic regard and frequent discrimination may be more vulnerable in their schools. Additionally, youth of different ethnic groups had varied experiences. For youth of Vietnamese backgrounds, for example, a stronger sense of ethnic regard contributed to better social adjustment at school. These results, similar to previous studies, suggest that the research on the buffering effects of different components of ethnic identity remains equivocal.

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