INDIAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH STUDIES - Volume 4 Issue 2, July.2022

Pages: 32-49
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Well-being in Relation to Identity Consistency in a Collectivistic Culture

Author: Grace Lalkhawngaihi, H.K Laldinpuii Fente

Category: Health Studies

Abstract:

Empirical findings on the influence of identity consistency on psychological health and functioning in the Eastern and Western cultural settings tend to be dissimilar, understandably so, given the cultural differences especially in collectivism and individualism. The present study examined the importance of identity consistency in the context of group situations for emotional, social, and psychological well-being among young adults (20 to 40 years) of a strongly collectivistic society of Mizoram, India. Participants included 206 members of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in Mizoram who were selected randomly in equal proportion of gender (103 males and 103 females). Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (Keyes, 2002), Identity Consistency Scale (Suh, 2002), and Levels of Group Participation Scale (Rasmussen, 2003) was used for measurement of the constructs. Results revealed that both Mizo young male and female adults were considerably consistent in their identity presentations across social situations; they were moderately involved in social activities and scored relatively high on measures of emotional, social, psychological, and overall well-being. Moderation analyses showed that for young Mizo women who were inconsistent in situational self-presentation, higher social participation significantly increased their emotional well-being. For young adult males, no significant moderation effect of identity consistency between group participation and well-being was found. Discussions gleaned upon identity management in multiple social situations, cultural specific factors, concepts of self-continuity and social roles in the context of the Mizo society, and well-being in collectivistic cultures.

Keywords: well-being, group participation, identity consistency

DOI: 10.56490/IJHS.2022.4202

DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.56490/IJHS.2022.4202