Family Dynamics, Identity, and Mental Health in Biracial Individuals

1. Family Dynamics, Identity, and Mental Health in Biracial Individuals Jordan Soliz, Department of Communication Studies Parental Messages and Self-Concept (Nuru & Soliz, 2012) Background and Rationale for Studies Next Phase: General Research Questions Guiding Conceptual Model (Figure 1) Race and ethnicity have strong associations with mental health patterns in the United States and reducing health disparities is a high national priority. However, bi/multi-racial population has received little attention from researchers and practitioners. The biracial population in the United States has grown considerably during the last few decades reaching nearly 7 million in 2000 and projections are that this population will grow exponentially in the next decades. Biracial individuals have experiences that differ from individuals with only one racial/ethnic group specifically with the complex association between social identity (i.e., racial identity), self-concept (e.g., self-efficacy, stability), and mental health. Biracial identity challenges the monoracial norms that pervade American culture: (a) Unique experiences and social burdens (e.g., managing challenges to one’s identity, societal disapproval) (b)Potential experiences of ambiguity and uncertainty in racial identity and self concept (Nuru, Soliz, & Rittenour, 2012) which has negative implications for mental health (c) Potential associations between experiences of biracial identity and mental health (see Shih & Sanchez, 2005 for review) some results pointing to other negative aspects of biracial identity in terms of mental well-being whereas other findings conclude no difference compared to monoracial samples. We know very little about what may differentiate positive and negative well-being for biracial individuals. Family dynamics are central to mental health and coping skills. Moreover, families with multiple racial groups are likely to have dynamics that differ from monoracial families. The purpose of this program of research is to understand the role family relationships and interactions play in facilitating social identity development associated with positive self-concept and mental health in biracial individuals. 113 participants ranging in age from 19-53 years (M = 26.59, SD = 8.02; 18.13% men, 69.91% women) answered open-ended survey questions soliciting their perceptions of parental messages concerning ethnic identity. Analysis through open-ended coding and thematic analysis. Whereas some individuals received encouraging messages that facilitate secure and positive identity development, others indicated messages that likely hindered this more positive sense of self and, at times, provoked a negativeperspective on one’s mixed heritage. Exemplars: “Be proud of who you are and never choose one race because you aren’t just one race/ethnicity” “Probably about once a week we [would] have a conversation that involves my racial identity. Growing up, my mom always told me that I should identify equally with both my 'white and black' side. That I shouldn't feel like I have to choose between one or the other. This mindset really drove how I personally racially identified” “There are a lot [of memorable messages], but the only one that stands out is that my mom told me, when I was about 13 years old, that I was acting 'too black' (like my father's race) and that I would probably end up 'hanging around the wrong crowd as I got older’.” “The thing in my family is that they didn't really talk about race at all, which I think put me at a disadvantage…I didn't know how to deal with being biracial and having people ask me, 'What are you?' as if it was a problem for others that they couldn't categorize me…” • What role do family communication processes (e.g., socializing messages, affirmation) play in shaping racial identity, self-concept (e.g., self-efficacy, stability), and family solidarity? • What role does (grand) parental communication play in amplifying or diminishing perceived racial differences (i.e., intergroup distinctions) within the family? In what ways are these differences associated with identity, self-concept, and mental health outcomes? • What roles do racial identity, self-concept, and family processes play in facilitating positive mental health outcomes in biracial individuals? Intergroup Dynamics of Multiracial Families (Soliz, Thorson, & Rittenour 2009) Employing a one-with-many design (with MLM), 139 participants ranging in age from 19-53 years (M = 26.27, SD = 8.13) completed an on-line questionnaire (75.5 % female: 24.5 % male), completed an on-line questionnaire (75.5 % female: 24.5 % male) answering questions about 444 family members (parents and grandparents; M family members = 3.19, SD = .88). For the most part, interpersonal family communication as assessed by reciprocal self-disclosure, supportive communication, and identity accommodation (i.e., affirming multiracial identity and experiences was positively associated with relational solidarity (RS: Relational Satisfaction; SFI: Shared Family Identity) and negatively associated with recognition of racial/ethnic differences (GS: Group Salience) in the family. Figure 1 Conceptual Model for “Family Dynamics, Identity, and Mental Health in Biracial Individuals” References Nuru, A. K. & Soliz, J. (2012). Parental socialization of ethnic identity: Perspectives from multiethnic adults. Presented at the conference of the International Association for Relationship Research, Chicago. Nuru, A. K., Soliz, J., & Rittenour (2012). Constructing, expressing, and reflecting ethnic identity: Perspectives from multiethnic individuals. Presented at the conference of the National Communication Association, Orlando. Shih, M., & Sanchez, D. T. (2005). Perspectives and research on the positive and negative implications of having multiple racial identities. Psychological Bulletin, 131, 569-591. Soliz, J., Thorson, A., & Rittenour, C. E. (2009). Communicative correlates of satisfaction, family identity, and group salience in multiracial/ethnic families. Journal of Marriage and Family, 71, 819-832. Embracing a singular vs. multiracial identity was not a significant predictor of relational outcomes. Table 1: Communicative and Identity Predictors of Relational Satisfaction, Shared Family Identity and Group Salience Recognition of racial/ethnic difference (i.e., group salience) was negatively associated with both relational satisfaction (-.267**) and shared family identity (-.121**).