Feelings of Being Caught Between Families and Peers: Linking Cultural Incongruence and Peer Ethnic/Racial Discrimination to Adolescent Well-Being

Abstract

“Caught between two worlds” is a common portrait of ethnic/racial minority youth living between their heritage cultures and the mainstream American culture. Coming from a different cultural background at home likely leads to prejudice and social exclusion in peer groups. The present study investigates how family-peer incongruence in ethnic/racial messages they convey produces feelings of being caught between the two settings among ethnic/racial minority adolescents, which in turn compromises their psychological and academic well-being. The study will also explore potential protective factors at individual (i.e., coping) and peer levels (i.e., peer support).