Acculturative stress, self esteem and ethnic identity among 2nd generation Sikh adolescents

Relationships between acculturative stress, self esteem, and ethnic identity were studied with 2nd generation male and female Sikh adolescents in grade 8, 9, and 10. Students were given the Cawte Acculturative Stress Scale, Coopersmith Self Esteem Inventory, and the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure. Overall, 2nd generation Sikh students were found to have a high level of acculturative stress. Within the multiple regression analysis of Acculturative Stress scores on the Full scale and Subscale scores of Self Esteem, significant relationships were found for the Full scale score and the General Self Esteem score. A multiple regression analysis of Acculturative Stress and Full scale and Subscales of Ethnic Identity did not result in any significant relationships. A Stepwise Regression analysis included as the independent variables all the Full scale and Subscale scores for Self Esteem and Ethnic Identity. It resulted in only three independent variables with significant b weights, General Self Esteem, Social Self Esteem and Ethnic Behaviors, which combined accounted for 43% of the variance (r=.66). Gender differences were found with males having significantly higher scores on Acculturative Stress and lower scores on Affirmation/belonging and Social Self Esteem than females. The school that a student attended was found to be related to scores on Other Group Orientation, General Self Esteem, Home/peers Self Esteem,and Full scale Self Esteem. The ethnic label that a student subscribes is a good indicator of the scores on the Full Scale and Subscales of Ethnic Identity.Education, Faculty ofEducational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department ofGraduat