Abstract

Discrimination occurs daily in the lives of persons belonging to marginalized groups. The current study examined the effect of perceived discrimination on psychological well-being among international students at the College of Wooster. This study looked at whether perceived discrimination, social support, group identification, and American social support predicted psychological well-being. As suggested by the rejection-identification model, group identification was predicted to buffer the negative consequences of perceived discrimination on psychological well-being through mediation. Social support and American social support were predicted to moderate the effect of perceived discrimination on psychological well-being. International students (n = 99) were recruited at the College of Wooster and filled out a survey with questions pertaining to these principle variables, perceived language discrimination, closeness with Americans and demographics. Results showed that perceived discrimination, group identification, and American social support significantly predicted psychological well-being, but social support did not. The rejection-identification model was not supported. Social support and American social support did not moderate the relationship between perceived discrimination and psychological well-being. However, closeness with Americans moderated the relationship between perceived discrimination and psychological well-being. International students who had higher closeness with Americans exhibited higher levels of depression and anxiety symptoms when experiencing low levels of perceived discrimination compared to international students with low closeness with Americans.

Advisor

Garcia, Amber

Department

Psychology

Disciplines

Clinical Psychology | Psychology | Social Psychology

Publication Date

2018

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2018 Maria Atala