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Flourishing Privately but Languishing Publicly: Ethnic Identity’s Contribution to Understanding Eudaimonic Wellbeing

Author

Listed:
  • Mary J. Arneaud

    (School of Social Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, Dubai P.O. Box 38103, United Arab Emirates)

  • Nicole Alea

    (Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA)

  • Theodore E. A. Waters

    (Division of Science, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 129188, United Arab Emirates)

Abstract

The paper probes the meaning of wellbeing by examining whether ethnic identity is related to private and public conceptualisations of eudaimonic wellbeing. Private and public eudaimonic wellbeing are assessed as positive relations with others and social integration. Ethnic identity is a type of social identity that is meaningful in contexts of enduring inter-ethnic group contact. Fiji and Trinidad and Tobago (TT), nations with contact between two major ethnic groups for over a century, are the contexts for a preliminary exploration. Young adults (Fiji N = 38, 19–26 years old; TT N = 41, 18–25 years old) completed measures of positive relations with others (private eudaimonic wellbeing), social integration (public eudaimonic wellbeing), and ethnic identity development. Across the nations, a stronger sense of ethnic identity, or commitment to the ingroup, predicted better positive relations with others but worse social integration. Ethnic identity thus seems to be a key construct in understanding positive private, but negative public eudaimonic wellbeing among young adults in contexts of ethnic diversity. Findings are discussed by considering how implications of ethnic diversity (competitive inter-group relations, inter-group contact making ethnic group membership salient) might be related to ethnic identity development, and private and public eudaimonic wellbeing.

Suggested Citation

  • Mary J. Arneaud & Nicole Alea & Theodore E. A. Waters, 2022. "Flourishing Privately but Languishing Publicly: Ethnic Identity’s Contribution to Understanding Eudaimonic Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-9, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:21:p:14156-:d:957494
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Russell Daye, 2009. "Poverty, Race Relations, and the Practices of International Business: A Study of Fiji," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 89(2), pages 115-127, November.
    2. Sam Manuela & Chris Sibley, 2013. "The Pacific Identity and Wellbeing Scale (PIWBS): A Culturally-Appropriate Self-Report Measure for Pacific Peoples in New Zealand," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 112(1), pages 83-103, May.
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