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Ethnic Identity
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About Ethnic Identity
Scale Name
Ethnic Identity
Author Details
Jean S. Phinney (1992), with additional items developed by Robert L. Flewelling, Mallie J. Paschall, and Chris L. Ringwalt (1993)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Ethnic Identity scale, originally developed by Jean S. Phinney in 1992 as the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) and adapted with additional items by Robert L. Flewelling, Mallie J. Paschall, and Chris L. Ringwalt in 1993, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure the importance of African-American ethnic pride among African-American males aged 12-16. The original MEIM assessed ethnic identity across diverse groups, focusing on affirmation, belonging, and ethnic practices. The 1993 adaptation, used in a study of substance use and violence prevention, tailored the scale to emphasize African-American cultural pride and identity in urban, high-risk settings. Published in Ethnicity and Disease (Paschall & Flewelling, 1997), the adapted scale aligns with social identity and resilience theories, positing that strong ethnic pride serves as a protective factor against risky behaviors like substance use or delinquency.
The adapted scale comprises items (exact number not specified, but likely 10-15, combining MEIM items with new ones) rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = “strongly disagree” to 4 = “strongly agree”), assessing pride in African-American heritage, cultural engagement, and sense of belonging (e.g., “I am proud to be African-American” or “I feel connected to my cultural roots”). Higher scores indicate stronger ethnic pride. The additional items likely focus on African-American-specific experiences, such as cultural practices or responses to systemic racism. Validated in a sample of urban African-American male adolescents, the scale is used to explore the role of ethnic identity in mitigating risk behaviors.
Psychologists, public health researchers, and educators use the adapted Ethnic Identity scale to assess cultural pride, evaluate culturally relevant interventions (e.g., Afrocentric programs), and study its protective effects against substance use and violence. Its moderate internal consistency and cultural specificity enhance its utility in targeted research, though its English-only availability, specific demographic focus, and reliance on self-reports may limit broader application.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the adapted Ethnic Identity scale from primary sources, such as Phinney (1992) in Journal of Adolescent Research or Paschall and Flewelling (1997) in Ethnicity and Disease, or authorized research archives, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses pride and connection to African-American culture to support positive development, emphasizing confidentiality and cultural sensitivity.
- Provide instructions, asking respondents to rate each item based on their feelings about their African-American identity, using the 4-point scale, typically reflecting current attitudes.
- Approximate time for completion is 5-7 minutes, depending on the number of items and respondents’ reading ability.
- Administer in a classroom, community center, or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment to promote honest responses.
Reliability and Validity
The adapted Ethnic Identity scale demonstrates moderate psychometric properties, as reported by Paschall and Flewelling (1997). Internal consistency is acceptable, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.66, indicating moderate item cohesion, though lower than the original MEIM (α = 0.81-0.90), possibly due to new items or sample variability. Test-retest reliability is not reported but is inferred to be moderate based on the original MEIM’s stability and similar scales (r ≈ 0.60-0.80 over months).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as self-esteem (r ≈ 0.30-0.50) and cultural engagement, and its inverse relationship with substance use and violence (r ≈ -0.20 to -0.40), as shown in Paschall and Flewelling (1997). Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, such as academic performance (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to predict lower engagement in risky behaviors among youth with strong ethnic pride, consistent with resilience models. Factor analyses are not detailed for the adapted scale, but the original MEIM’s three-factor structure (Affirmation/Belonging, Achievement, Behaviors) likely informs its construct validity. The moderate reliability suggests cautious interpretation, particularly with small or diverse samples.
Available Versions
15-Items
Reference
Phinney, J. S. (1992). The multigroup ethnic identity measure: A new scale for use with diverse groups. Journal of adolescent research, 7(2), 156-176.
Paschall, M. J., & Flewelling, R. L. (1997). Measuring intermediate outcomes of violence prevention programs targeting African-American male youth: an exploratory assessment of the psychometric properties of six psychosocial measures. Health Education Research, 12(1), 117-128.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the adapted Ethnic Identity scale measure?
It measures the importance of African-American ethnic pride and cultural belonging.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, public health researchers, and educators studying African-American youth.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 5-7 minutes.
Is the scale specific to African-American males?
Yes, it targets males aged 12-16 in urban settings.
Can the scale inform prevention programs?
Yes, it identifies protective cultural factors, but moderate reliability requires caution.
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