Ethnic socialization, ethnic identity, life satisfaction and school achievement of Roma ethnic minority youth. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dimitrova, Radosveta; Johnson, Deborah J.; van de Vijver, Fons J.R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of adolescence. Volume 62(2018)
• Page Start: 175
• Page End: 183
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Ethnic socialization -- Ethnic identity -- Life satisfaction -- School achievement -- Roma ethnic minority; Adolescent psychiatry -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychology -- Periodicals; Adolescence -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 305.23505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2017.06.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-1971

Abstract

Abstract: This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Explaining Positive Adaptation of Immigrant Youth across Cultures. This study tested a mediation model of ethnic socialization (i.e., parental practices that promote children's knowledge about their history, heritage culture, cultural authenticity, and ethnic bias management) in Roma youth. Roma are the largest ethnic minority group in Europe subjected to severe discrimination, both currently and historically. Participants were 202 Roma youth aged 14 to 19 years old (M = 16.25, 53% females), who provided self-reports on their experience of ethnic socialization, ethnic identity, school achievement, and life satisfaction. Cultural pride reinforcement was related to better school achievement, whereas cultural coping with antagonism was positively related to life satisfaction. The study confirmed the model in that ethnic socialization was positively related to life satisfaction through effects on ethnic identity but negatively associated with school achievement. Findings have implications for adaptive cultural mechanisms promoting positive developmental outcomes among historically disadvantaged groups including those intersecting immigrant and multigenerational ethnic minority group categories.