THE RELATIONSHIPS OF RACIAL IDENTITY AND GENDER-ROLE CONFLICT TO SELF-ESTEEM OF ASIAN AMERICAN UNDERGRADUATE MEN

Abstract

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational, online study was to examine the relationships of racial identity and gender-role conflict to self-esteem of Asian American undergraduate men (N = 173). Instruments included the People of Color Racial Identity Attitude Scale, Gender-Role Conflict Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and a demographic questionnaire. Random samples were drawn from two large public research institutions on the East and West coasts. The two samples were combined because there were no significant differences in self-esteem by location of institution. Through blocked, hierarchical multiple regression analysis, 36.8% of the variance in self-esteem (p < .001) was explained by gender-role conflict subscales and racial identity statuses. Three subscales were found to be significant (p<.05) predictors of self-esteem: Restrictive Emotionality, Dissonance, and Internalization. Implications were that mature racial identity development and critical analysis of traditional gender-roles were important for the development of self-esteem of Asian American undergraduate men.