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Kiang L, Fuligni AJ. Meaning in life as a mediator of ethnic identity and adjustment among adolescents from Latin, Asian, and European American backgrounds. J Youth Adolesc. 2009;39(11):1253-64doi: 10.1007/s10964-009-9475-z.
Kiang, L., & Fuligni, A. J. (2010). Meaning in life as a mediator of ethnic identity and adjustment among adolescents from Latin, Asian, and European American backgrounds. Journal of youth and adolescence, 39(11), 1253-64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-009-9475-z
Kiang, Lisa, and Fuligni, Andrew J. "Meaning in life as a mediator of ethnic identity and adjustment among adolescents from Latin, Asian, and European American backgrounds." Journal of youth and adolescence vol. 39,11 (2010): 1253-64. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-009-9475-z
Kiang L, Fuligni AJ. Meaning in life as a mediator of ethnic identity and adjustment among adolescents from Latin, Asian, and European American backgrounds. J Youth Adolesc. 2010 Nov;39(11):1253-64. doi: 10.1007/s10964-009-9475-z. Epub 2009 Nov 14. PMID: 19915965; PMCID: PMC2937152.
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J Youth Adolesc. 2010 Nov;39(11):1253-64. doi: 10.1007/s10964-009-9475-z. Epub 2009 Nov 14.

Meaning in life as a mediator of ethnic identity and adjustment among adolescents from Latin, Asian, and European American backgrounds.

Journal of youth and adolescence

Lisa Kiang, Andrew J Fuligni

Affiliations

  1. Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA. [email protected]

PMID: 19915965 PMCID: PMC2937152 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-009-9475-z

Abstract

Establishing a sense of life meaning is a primary facet of well-being, yet is understudied in adolescent development. Using data from 579 adolescents (53% female) from Latin American, Asian, and European backgrounds, demographic differences in meaning in life, links with psychological and academic adjustment, and the role of meaning in explaining associations between ethnic identity and adjustment were examined. Although no generational or gender differences were found, Asian Americans reported higher search for meaning than Latin and European Americans. Presence of meaning was positively associated with self-esteem, academic adjustment, daily well-being, and ethnic belonging and exploration, whereas search for meaning was related to lower self-esteem and less stability in daily well-being. Presence of meaning mediated associations between ethnic identity and adjustment, explaining 28-52% of ethnic identity's protective effect on development. Ethnic identity thus appears to affect adjustment, in part, through its role in fostering a positive sense of meaning in adolescents' lives.

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