Abstract
The study of ethnic identity has received considerable attention in the field of psychology. However, the literature draws primarily from WEIRD populations and conflates race and ethnicity. Ethnic identity remains understudied in multi-ethnic and diverse contexts like India, where language is often used as a marker of ethnicity. This study conceptualised ethnicity on the basis of language and assessed the psychometric properties of the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure-Revised, in a multi-ethnic sample of young adults in Karnataka, India. The reliability, convergent validity (self-esteem, optimism, familial ethnic socialisation, national identity), concurrent validity (EIS-B) and factor structure of the measure were assessed. Additionally, differences in ethnic identity were examined between the majority and minority ethnic groups. The study provides support for the convergent and concurrent validity of the measure and confirms the correlated two-factor structure of exploration and commitment. Our results also showed that ethnic identity was more significant among majority group members, contradicting previous literature and highlighting the cultural significance of language as ethnicity. The study adds to the literature on the MEIM-R highlighting the applicability of this measure to multicultural settings with multiple definitions of ethnicity.
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Abbreviations
- MEIM-R:
-
Multigroup ethnic identity measure-revised
- WEIRD:
-
Western, educated, industrialised, rich and democratic
- MEIM:
-
Multigroup ethnic identity measure
- RSES:
-
Rosenberg self-esteem scale
- LOT-R:
-
Revised life orientation test
- FESM:
-
Familial ethnic socialisation measure
- ICSEY:
-
International comparative study of ethnocultural youth
- EIS-B:
-
Ethnic identity scale-brief
- CFI:
-
Comparative fit index
- TLI:
-
Tucker–Lewis fit index
- RMSEA:
-
Root mean square error of approximation
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Acknowledgements
Department of Psychology Ashoka University, Dr. Avantika Bhatia
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Krishna Kishore Lal conceived the idea for this study, designed the method, collected the data, conducted the analysis and wrote the manuscript. Krishna Kishore Lal is now an alumna of Ashoka University. This manuscript is a completion of her capstone thesis. Sramana Majumdar served as Krishna Kishore Lal's thesis advisor throughout the study and contributed to data collection, data analysis and editing the manuscript. Dr. Sramana Majumdar is affiliated with Ashoka University.
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Appendix A
Appendix A
See Fig. 1.
Path Diagram for Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Note. Estimates of the CFA model of ethnic identity with two correlated factors. Item numbers refer to the items from the MEIM-R scale shown in Appendix B. All values are significant at p < 0.001
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Lal, K.K., Majumdar, S. Language as Ethnicity: Evaluating the Psychometric Properties of the MEIM-R in a Multi-ethnic Population in India. Psychol Stud 68, 45–57 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-022-00702-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-022-00702-6