A Wake Forest University study published in the September/October issue of Child Development shows that teens with positive feelings toward their ethnic group are happier than those with negative feelings about their ethnicity.
More than 400 ninth graders from Chinese and Mexican backgrounds completed questionnaires regarding their feelings about their ethnic identity, then completed daily assessments about daily stressors and moods for two weeks. Those with higher regard for their ethnic identity proved to have higher levels of daily happiness, even in the face of increased stress.
These results show the value of encouraging strong ethnic identity by both families and society, researchers say.
Read more: Adolescents get daily happiness boost from ethnic identity