Following earlier research on social and psychological effects and significance of collective self-esteem (CSE) in intergroup relations, a comparative cross cultural study was conducted to examine and compare the correlates of CSE, personal self-esteem (PSE) and personal experience of racism (PER) in Quebecois and Cambodian groups of adolescents and their parents. It was hypothesised that the effects and distribution of CSE, PSE and PER would be different across cultures and, within cultural groups, across generations, due to the differential meanings and social implications of these constructs in each group. Owngroup interviewers interviewed 208 subjects in French and Khmer languages. The study sample consisted of 114 Cambodian and 94 Quebecois participants. Each of these two groups was composed of two equal sub-groups of adolescents and their parents. Global results replicated earlier findings. Closer observation, however, revealed asymmetric patterns across the two ethnic groups. Results are discussed as evidence for the following hypotheses: (1) The magnitude of scores achieved on collective self-esteem varies across cultures; (2) The relationship between CSE and PSE is stronger for the Cambodian population; (3) The relationship between CSE and PER varies as a function of group membership (across cultures/generations); and (4) CSE has a positive correlation with mental health. Theoretical implications of the findings are further discussed in terms of the applicability of the construct CSE, a possible distinction between 'true' and 'defensive' high collective self-esteem scores on self-report scales, and the importance of collective self-esteem in intergroup interactions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.31529 |
| Date | January 2001 |
| Creators | Rahimi, Sadeq. |
| Contributors | Rousseau, Cecile (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Division of Social & Transcultural Psychiatry.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001803770, proquestno: MQ70490, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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