ABSTRACT
This study explores the effects that cultural adjustment to a dominant culture context may have on the development of cultural identity and ultimately on global self-esteem in early and late adolescent youth of ethnic minority background. The study sought to assess the inter-relationship between perceived cognitive, social, and physical self and cultural membership that ultimately contribute to the development of self-identity and global self-esteem. In addition, attitudes toward acculturation and achieved cultural identity were expected to be a function of maturation. Experiences of racism, parental characteristics and geographical status were also considered as critical features shaping cultural identity. Convenience samples of 400 junior and senior high school students residing in regional North Queensland Australia were surveyed. Of these, 106 were identified as being of culturally and linguistically diverse background (CLDB). Results indicated that cultural identification appears to be significantly influenced by the combined effects of experiences of racism, segregation views on adjustment, and cultural exploration. In turn, global self-esteem was influenced significantly by the combined effects of marginalisation attitudes to acculturation, age, and cultural identity search.
