Abstract:
Multicultural individuals – an increasingly prevalent population in Canada and the United States – must negotiate different cultural identities within the self. Amiot et al. (2007) have posited three different identity configurations: compartmentalization, integration and categorization, which are differentially impacted by discrimination. In a recent study Yampolsky & Amiot (2016) found that greater discrimination predicted greater compartmentalization and lower integration through greater stress (no effect was found for categorization). Their study measured stress using a self-report questionnaire.
The current study tests the model proposed by Yampolsky & Amiot (2016) by using heart rate variability, a physiological indicator of stress, to index acculturative stress. Identity configurations (MULTIIS), perceived discrimination (EDS) and stress (heart rate variability) were measured among 118 Maghreb immigrants in Canada during a laboratory visit. Using a series of hierarchical multiple regressions, we found that greater discrimination predicted greater categorization and compartmentalization through greater stress (no effect was found for integration). Perceived discrimination and stress seem to have a detrimental role in one’s ability to reconcile their different identities, which may have negative effects on overall well-being.
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Sarah Benkirane, B.A. Hons.
Étudiante au doctorat / Ph.D. Student
CIEL - Laboratoire de Recherche sur la Culture l'Identité et la Langue
Département de psychologie
Université du Québec à Montréal
C.P. 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville
Montréal (Québec) CANADA H3C 3P8
E-mail: benkirane.sarah@courrier.uqam.ca<mailto:benkirane.sarah@courrier.uqam.ca>
ciel.uqam.ca<http://ciel.uqam.ca>