Keywords

Multicultural, psychological functioning, multicultural personality, sem, ethnic identity, prejudice

Abstract

As the U.S. becomes increasingly diverse, individuals will need to interact effectively with a wide range of people. The theory of multicultural personality refined by Ponterotto (2010) proposes that some individuals may be better suited than others to adapt to the changing demographic landscape. Individuals with a multicultural personality are theorized to have the ability to interact effectively within a wide range of contexts and draw on diverse experiences and resources to solve everyday problems in multiple ways as well as seek out diversity in their lives. Because of their skills and disposition, Ponterotto (2010) suggests that those with a multicultural personality may experience better psychological functioning than their nonmulticultural counterparts. The current study utilized Structural Equation Modeling to test the hypothesis that individuals who endorse greater multicultural personality also exhibit less prejudice, greater ethnic identity, and better psychological functioning, defined as a combination of subjective well-being and clinical symptomology. Results indicated moderate fit to the data and examination of specific paths within the model suggests that the relationship between multicultural personality and subjective well-being may be stronger than that between multicultural personality and clinical symptomology. Differences by ethnicity were also found on measures of ethnic identity and mental health. These results highlight the need to further refine the concept of multicultural personality as well as examine the complex relationships between multicultural personality, subjective well-being, and clinical symptomology

Notes

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Graduation Date

2013

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Negy, Charles

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree Program

Psychology Clinical

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0004950

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0004950

Language

English

Release Date

August 2018

Length of Campus-only Access

5 years

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Sciences, Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic

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