Commitment of adolescents and youth to ethnic identity in a contemporary intercultural society

Abstract

This study examined the influence of age on ethnic identity commitment, examining the extent to which adolescents in a multicultural society identify with their ethnic origin. The primary objective was to explore patterns of ethnic identity development across distinct stages of youth and early adulthood.  A quantitative design was employed surveying 336 participants aged 17-35 using a structured questionnaire assessing ethnic identification, including cultural affiliation, pride, and involvement in ethnic-related practices. The results revealed a moderate level of commitment to ethnic identities among participants. However, age was a significant variable. Younger participants (17-22 years) showed lower commitment levels compared to older groups (23-28 and 29-35 years) suggesting a developmental trajectory in ethnic identity formation. These findings have important implications for understanding identity, values and belief system evolution in adolescence and early adulthood within multicultural contexts. The study highlights the need for further longitudinal and cross-cultural research to deepen our understanding of complex ethnic identity processes in diverse societies.