The association of ethnic and American identities with psychological well-being among Latinx emerging adults : the mediating role of bicultural identity integration

The current study sought to examine an integrative model where ethnic and American identity exploration and commitment was associated with psychological well-being (i.e., anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, hope, and self-esteem) by way of bicultural identity integration (BII) blendedness and harmony. Data for the current study came from a three-wave longitudinal study about cultural stressors and well-being among Latinx freshmen who attended a public college in a central Texas city. Baseline data was collected from 568 (M [subscript age] = 18.20, SD = 0.51; 70% female; 30% male) incoming Latinx students in Fall of 2020, followed by 345 students in Spring 2021, and 317 students in Fall of 2021. Given that no prior study has examined this integrative model, the current study tested the model at three levels: cross-sectional, longitudinal without modeling change, and longitudinal modeling for change. Results from the structural equation modeling analyses at the cross-sectional and longitudinal level without modeling change suggest ethnic identity exploration and American identity commitment to be associated with BII blendedness and harmony, which, in turn, were associated with psychological well-being. Overall, these patterns of results may suggest the need to pay close attention to Latinx emerging adults’ ethnic identity exploration and American identity commitment as BII harmony and BII blendedness were associated with psychological well-being when emerging adults were high on ethnic identity exploration and American identity commitment. However, no significant relationships were found in the longitudinal level modeling change. The non-significant results may warrant the need for future research modeling change over time.