Ethnic and ego identity among Korean-American adolescents

Graduation date: 1996This study explored the relationship between ethnic and ego identities taking\ud into consideration age at arrival in the U.S., gender of adolescent, family functioning,\ud and parental performance of ethnic behaviors/activities. In addition, this study\ud described the general nature of ethnic and ego identity development among Korean-\ud American adolescents.\ud One hundred and twenty-two Korean-American adolescents completed the\ud Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure, Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity\ud Status, Family Assessment Measure III, Parental Performance of Ethnic Activities and\ud Behaviors Questionnaire, and a Demographic Questionnaire. Results revealed that the\ud overall relationship between ethnic and ego identity seemed to be positive, particularly\ud in the ideological ego identity domain, and less in the interpersonal ego identity domain.\ud In addition, this relationship appeared to be particularly evident when considering\ud adolescents' ethnic identity achievement scores. This relationship, however, was\ud complex and multidimensional. It appeared to be partially influenced by Korean-\ud American adolescents' arrival time in the U.S., gender, and family functioning. Results\ud also indicated that family functioning and parental performance of ethnic behaviors and\ud activities had a significant impact on adolescents' ethnic identity, independent of ego\ud identity.\ud Limitations and suggestions for future research were discussed. Implications\ud for those who work with Korean-American adolescents in relation to their ethnic and\ud ego identities were also presented