“But what are you, really?” Examining Multiracial Identity and Psychological Well-Being
Conference Strand
Identity Formation
Abstract
With the continued growth of the Multiracial population, it is increasingly important to study this underrepresented group. This presentation will specifically give an overview of the literature regarding psychological well-being and multiracial identity. After a thorough literature review, authors will give recommendations for future research directions regarding these constructs as well as implications and recommendations for counselors and counselor educators.
Evidence
References include:
Allen, G. E. K., Garriott, P. O., Reyes, C. J., & Hsieh, C. (2013). Racial Identity, Phenotype, and Self-Esteem Among Biracial Polynesian/White Individuals. Family Relations, 62(1), 82–91.
Binning, K. R., Unzueta, M. M., Huo, Y. J., & Molina, L. E. (2009). The Interpretation of Multiracial Status and Its Relation to Social Engagement and Psychological Well-Being. Journal of Social Issues, 65(1), 35-49.
Fisher, S., Zapolski, T. C. B., Sheehan, C., & Barnes-Najor, J. (2017). Pathway of protection: Ethnic identity, self-esteem, and substance use among multiracial youth. Addictive Behaviors, 72, 27–32
Franco, M. G., & O’Brien, K. M. (2018). Racial identity invalidation with multiracial individuals: An instrument development study. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 24(1), 112–125.
López, I. (2008). “But you don’t look Puerto Rican”: The moderating effect of ethnic identity on the relation between skin color and self-esteem among Puerto Rican women. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 14(2), 102–108.
Townsend, S. M., Markus, H. R., & Bergsieker, H. B. (2009). My Choice, Your Categories: The Denial of Multiracial Identities. Journal of Social Issues, 65(1), 185-204.
Villegas-Gold, R., & Tran, A. G. T. T. (2018). Socialization and well-being in multiracial individuals: A moderated mediation model of racial ambiguity and identity. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 65(4), 413–422.
Additionally, we will be referencing a completed phenomenological study under review by McDonald, Chang, O'Hara, Guvensel, & Parker regarding Experiences of Racial Mislabeling in Multiracial Individuals.
Format
Individual Presentations
Biographical Sketch
Victoria Glover is a master's student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Mercer University. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia in Psychology and a minor in Human Development and family science. Her research interests include multiracial identity development and minorities in higher education.
Peeper McDonald, Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling at Mercer University, holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Practice and is a National Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia, and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. Her research interests include: professional identity, social justice and advocacy issues, and multicultural issues in counseling. She has
presented and published on these topics, with specific focus on the racial mislabeling, color-blindness and discrimination, and identity development of Multiracial individuals.
Location
PARB 227
Start Date
2-9-2019 10:15 AM
End Date
2-9-2019 11:30 AM
Recommended Citation
Glover, Victoria and McDonald, Peeper, "“But what are you, really?” Examining Multiracial Identity and Psychological Well-Being" (2019). National Cross-Cultural Counseling and Education Conference for Research, Action, and Change. 20.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/ccec/2019/2019/20
“But what are you, really?” Examining Multiracial Identity and Psychological Well-Being
PARB 227
With the continued growth of the Multiracial population, it is increasingly important to study this underrepresented group. This presentation will specifically give an overview of the literature regarding psychological well-being and multiracial identity. After a thorough literature review, authors will give recommendations for future research directions regarding these constructs as well as implications and recommendations for counselors and counselor educators.
Description
The multiracial population continues to grow in number, specifically three times as fast as compared to the population as a whole (Pew Research Center, 2015). Due to the growing Multiracial population, there is a need to further study this under-represented group, especially given the complexity of what is means to be multiracial (i.e., one individual’s multiracial identity might be a mix of Black, White, and Asian while another individual's multiracial identity might be a completely different racial mixture). This presentation aims to provide an overview of the literature regarding multiracial identity and psychological well-being with a specific focus on constructs such as: self-esteem, mislabeling and congruence, and multiracial developmental models and assessments (for example, Binning, Unzueta, Huo & Molina, 2009; Franco & O’Brien, 2018; Townsend, Markus, & Bergsieker, 2009; Villegas-Gold & Tran, 2018). Additionally, gaps in the literature regarding these specific constructs will be discussed. Finally, implications and future directions for areas of multiracial research will be discussed, as well as the implications the research findings have on counseling professionals and counselor educators.