emphasis is made on studies that have examined the ethnic identity development of

Hispanic and African American adolescents and how this construct relates to various

measures of mental health. Qualitative and quantitative research that evaluated the

developmental model of ethnic identity is presented. Research that relates ethnic identity

to several positive aspects of psychological development is reviewed. Also, research that

has conceptualized ethnic identity within a resiliency framework is described. Lastly,

research that has compared levels of ethnic identity to various mental and behavioral

problems is reviewed.

Ethnic Identity Development

 The majority of the research on ethnic identity development has been done with

adolescents and adults. The concept of ethnic identity development prior to adolescence

has been discussed only as it relates to racial or ethnic socialization (e.g., Bowman &

Howard, 1985; Caughy, O'Campo, Randolph, & Nickerson, 2002; Rotheram & Phinney,

1987; Thornton, Chatters, Taylor, & Allen, 1990). Rotheram and Phinney (1987) defined

ethnic socialization as "the developmental processes by which children acquire the

behaviors, perceptions, values, and attitudes of an ethnic group, and come to see

themselves and others as members of such groups" (p. 11). This definition clearly links

ethnic socialization to the development of ethnic identity, the aspect of identity related to

ethnic group membership. Ethnic socialization practices and their long-term effects on

ethnic identity development, however, rarely have been studied.

 Research with African American families has focused on the many facets of racial

socialization (Bowman & Howard, 1985; Caughy et al., 2002; Thornton et al., 1990). In

general, the majority of African American parents do provide some level of racial or

ethnic socialization. Developing racial or ethnic pride is only one part of this process.