Caribbean Journal of Psychology: Vol. 11, Issue 1, 2019

Article 2
Ethnic Identity and Psychological Well-Being in Jamaican Immigrants: Examining Mainstream Comfort and Social Affiliation as Moderators

Laura Reid Marks
Florida State University, Florida

Ayse Pftri
West Lafayette, Indiana Brittany Lee
VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Tennessee



Abstract

The Jamaican immigrant population in the United States is growing. There is a need to understand factors that may influ­ence psychological well-being in this immigrant group. The purpose of the study was to examine the association between ethnic identity and psychological well-being, and the moder­ating role of mainstream comfort and social affiliation with one’s ethnicity versus other ethnicities on this relationship. One hundred Jamaican immigrants completed an online survey (Mage = 45.32 years, 63% women). Findings indicate a positive association between ethnic identity and psychological well­being and both mainstream comfort and social affiliation mod­erated this relationship. Findings have clinical and theoretical relevance for psychologists working with Jamaican immigrants in the United States and internationally.