Does commitment to an ethnic identity enhance or jeopardize psychological well-being? Using data from a study of Southeast Asian "Boat People", this study examined the mental health effects of ethnic identification as the former refugees confronted common resettlement stressors in Canada-unemployment, discrimination and lack of fluency in the dominant society language. The study team administered a questionnaire to 647 respondents covering ethnic identification, demographic and employment information, language fluency, experiences with discrimination, and depressive affect. Context helped determine the relationship between ethnic identification and depressive affect. When the Southeast Asians encountered racial discrimination or unemployment, ethnic identity attachment amplified the risk of depressive affect. By contrast, a strongly held ethnic identity provided a psychological advantage for individuals experiencing difficulties with the dominant language. © 2005.

Identity unemployment multiculturalism Depression language discrimination

cultural anthropology unemployment Communication Barriers Eurasia depression Asian refugee regression analysis psychological aspect demography perceptive discrimination Follow-Up Studies mental health human wellbeing Refugees Social Identification Asia language disability middle aged Stress, Psychological controlled study resettlement policy Aged affect Adaptation, Psychological Depressive Disorder mental disease North America Humans ethnic difference racism male Canada Southeast Asia Acculturation Aged, 80 and over female stress questionnaire Article adult Prejudice data analysis ethnicity Asia, Southeastern