Title thesis: * Exploring the relationship between Cultural Identity Conflict and psychological wellbeing, mediated by self-esteem and life satisfaction in bicultural individuals

Abstract

Abstract: Bicultural individuals (biculturals) are individuals that have multiple cultural backgrounds (Benet-Martínez et al., 2002). Research has shown that biculturality is associated with positive outcomes such as cultural sensitivity, more social skills, and greater creativity (Bell & Harrison, 1996; Lafromboise et al., 1993; Yamaguchi et al., 2016). However, research shows that biculturality has also been associated to more psychological symptoms such as suicidality ideation, depression, somatic symptoms, isolation, and higher levels of anxiety; this has also been shown among young adults (18-35) (Bhugra et al., 2014; Farver et al., 2002; Fortuna et al., 2005; Piña-Watson et al., 2015; Stroink & Lalonde, 2009a, 2009b; Wei et al., 2010). There is little insight into factors that contribute to the elevated risk of poor mental health. One of these factors seems to be Cultural Identity Conflict (CIC). Since the relation between CIC and mental health has been supported several times (eg., Lam, 2006; Mok & Morris, 2010; Piña-Watson et al., 2013; Stroink & Lalonde, 2009a; Toomey et al., 2013; Yamaguchi et al., 2016), no explanations of this relationship have been explored yet. The first aim of the study was to examine the relationship between CIC and psychological wellbeing. The second aim of this study was to examine the mediating role of self-esteem and life satisfaction in the linkage between CIC and psychological wellbeing; this was measured by doing a serial mediation using Hayes Process, model 6. Results showed that both self-esteem and life satisfaction are mediators in this relationship.