Cultural Factors Contributing to the Perceived Discrimination

In this study, Romero and Roberts’ model (1998) and Phinney’s causal model (1997) were used as frameworks to test the relationship between ethnic identity, in-group attitudes, out-group attitudes, and the perception of discrimination. Among Asian American, Korean American, and Korean students. These models tested direct effects of ethic identity on perceived discrimination and indirect effects mediated by in-group attitudes and out-group attitudes. School-based surveys in California and Korea were undertaken with seventh grade Asian American (n=576), Korean American (n=146), and Korean (n=130) students using multiple measures of the UCLA Middle School Diversity Project (MSDP). Structural equation modeling (SEM) in EQS indicated that both direct and indirect effects were found: higher ethnic identity was associated with more perceived discrimination for the direct effect; higher ethnic identity was associated with less perceived discrimination, through positive in-group attitudes and out-group attitudes for the indirect effect. The model was the same in all three ethnic groups. This model may capture relatively core psychological processes—those that operate in a similar fashion across a variety of groups. These results have important implications: while there are unique socio-cultural factors surrounding these groups’ experiences, some of the more core processes operate similarly among Asian ethnic groups