The costs of peer ethnic discrimination: Longitudinal associations with negative ethnic identity affect and identity coherence among ethnic minority adolescents

Abstract

The present study examined longitudinal associations between perceived peer ethnic discrimination, negative ethnic identity affect, and global identity coherence among ethnic minority adolescents in Italy (n = 280; M_age = 14.29; 59.28% female; 76.42% second-generation). Results indicated negative bidirectional associations between negative ethnic identity affect and global identity coherence. While the associations between peer discrimination and negative ethnic identity affect were bidirectional and positive, the links between peer discrimination and identity coherence were unidirectional and negative. Overall, the more negative feelings towards youth's own ethnic group membership were linked to lower identity coherence over time, and vice versa. The findings also reaffirmed the associations of peer discrimination with higher negative ethnic identity affect and lower global identity coherence, while reflecting that holding negative feelings about one's ethnic group may heighten the risk of being more sensitive and vulnerable to discrimination within peer context. Altogether, these findings offer a nuanced perspective on peer discrimination and its interplay with youth identity development in Italy.