Preliminary validation of a generalizable measure of identity shifting

• In Event: Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: PS 14 Topic - Race, Ethnicity, Culture, Context

Abstract

Although biculturalism has historically been studied among immigrant groups, all ethnic-racial minorities are tasked with successfully negotiating between mainstream culture and one’s own ethnic-racial heritage (Basilio et al., 2014; Boykin, 1986). Consistently, the term identity shifting has been utilized to describe how ethnic/racial minorities alter their own behavior and self-presentation (e.g., tone of voice, hairstyle, etc.) in response to perceived social demands (Jones & Shorter-Gooden, 2003). Although researchers have recently developed measures of identity shifting, such as the African American Women’s Shifting Scale (AAWSS; Johnson et al., 2015) and the Latina American Shifting Scale (LASS; Gamst et al., 2018), generalizable measures have yet to be established - making it difficult to understand the prevalence of shifting and its links to outcome across groups and context. Addressing these gaps, the current study examined the psychometric properties of a Composite Identity Shifting Scale consisting of items drawn from the AAWSS, LASS, and an ethnic/racial impression management scale (Dickens, unpublished) that were identified to be generalizable across gender and ethnicity/race.

The preliminary sample consisted of 266 self-reported ethnic/racial minority college students (83.4% female; Mage=20.77, SD=2.30; Black=69.5%, Asian=9.0%, Latinx=8.6%, Other=12.9%). We tested a one- to seven-factor model utilizing exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM; Muthén & Muthén, 1998–2017). After removing 11 items due to non-significant loadings or significant cross-loading (>.40 loadings), results indicated the 5-factor model provided the best fit. However, because there were no significant factor loadings on the 5th factor, the 4-factor model [χ2(74)=105.26, p<.001; CFI=.983; RMSEA=.043] was selected as the final model. As indicated in Table 1, items across measures loaded on to four factors: General Shifting (e.g., shifting not tied to ethnicity/race), Linguistic Ethnic/Racial Shifting (e.g., shifting in one’s way of speaking around White Americans), Downplaying (e.g., minimizing ones’ achievement/intelligence), and Behavioral Ethnic/Racial Shifting (e.g., shifting other aspects of ones’ self-presentation in response to ethnic/racial cues). As indicated in Table 2, general shifting was positively associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Additionally, downplaying was positively associated with symptoms of anxiety and negatively associated with well-being.

Although it was not feasible to establish invariance across gender and ethnic/racial groups at this time, the current findings provide preliminary evidence for the psychometric validity of a generalizable measure of ethnic/racial shifting. Overall, these preliminary findings emphasize a conceptual distinction between language shifting, ethnic/racial behavioral shifting, and downplaying of ones’ academic accomplishments as it relates to identity shifting. This distinction is consistent with the broader literature that has examined, separately, the act of changing ones’ language in response to environmental cues (e.g., Drummond, 2017; Gamst et al., 2018) and downplaying ones’ achievement (e.g., Horvat & Lewis, 2003). Interestingly, downplaying was the only shifting strategy, tied specifically to ones’ ethnicity and race, that was negatively associated with psychosocial outcomes – indicating that shifting may not be adaptive or maladaptive in-of-self.

Authors

• Alan Meca, University of Texas at San Antonio
  Presenting Author

• Taylor Webb, Old Dominion University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Julie Rodil, Old Dominion University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Aerika Brittian Loyd, University of California - Riverside
  Non-Presenting Author

• Marisha Lynnette Humphries, University of Illinois at Chicago
  Non-Presenting Author