Perceived discrimination and psychological distress: the role of personal and ethnic self-esteem

Abstract

The current study aimed to draw on two theoretical models to examine the relationship between perceived ethnic discrimination and psychological distress in a sample of ethnic minority young people (n = 154). Analysis provided no support for the hypothesis derived from the self-esteem theory of depression that self-esteem (personal and ethnic) moderates the discrimination-distress relationship. There was, however, partial support for a mediating role of self-esteem as predicted by the transactional model of stress and coping. This mediational relationship was moderated by gender, such that both forms of self-esteem exerted a mediating role among males but not females. We consider the implications of our findings for theory and future research examining the consequences of discrimination on psychological well-being.