Self and Identity
2018

Immigrant adolescents’ roots and dreams: Perceived mismatches between ethnic identities and aspirational selves predict engagement (Article in Press)

Debrosse R.* , Destin M. , Rossignac-Milon M. , Taylor D. , Rogers L.O.
  • a Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada, Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
  • b Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
  • c Psychology Department, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • d Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
  • e Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States

Abstract

Immigrant adolescents are generally more ambitious but not as likely to achieve their career/occupational aspirations as their peers. The present study draws on self-discrepancy and social identity literatures to define and explore the role of mismatches between ethnic and aspiration-related ideal selves. In two samples recruited in Canada, 73% of immigrant adolescents aspired to a university-bound career (e.g., physician, engineer). As expected, adolescents reporting larger ethnic/ideal self-discrepancies were less engaged towards their aspiration (Sample 1, n = 73) and viewed school less favorably (Sample 2, n = 125). The present analyses suggest that actual/ideal self-discrepancies mediate these associations, thus extending prior findings and highlighting the role of self-discrepancies in immigrant adolescents’ experiences. © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Author Keywords

aspiration Self-discrepancies Immigration Ethnic identity Adolescence

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85054567362&doi=10.1080%2f15298868.2018.1523223&partnerID=40&md5=9c3d9c4fcfa0851294ffd45f25538f52
DOI: 10.1080/15298868.2018.1523223
ISSN: 15298868
Original Language: English