Multiple Identities, Acculturation and Adaptation of Russians in Latvia and Georgia

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Abstract

The article presents the results of a comparative study examining the relationship between different types of social identity (ethnic, national, and place identity), acculturation strategies (assimilation, integration), and psychological adaptation (satisfaction with life and self-esteem) of Russians in two sociocultural contexts: Latvia and Georgia. Participants were 320 Russians in Latvia (M = 42,89; SD = 21,19), and 312 Russians in Georgia (M = 31,11; SD = 11,67). Path analysis was used to test the relationships. The results showed that national and place identities related to integration in both countries. Direct effects of place identity on psychological well-being are universal for the studied countries, while relationships of national and ethnic identities with well-being are context specific. Indirect positive effects of national and place identities on self-esteem through integration are universal in Latvia and Georgia.

General Information

Keywords: ethnic identity, national identity, place identity, integration, adaptation, acculturation strategies, ethnic minorities

Journal rubric: Empirical Research

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/chp.2019150206

Funding. The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project № 15-18-00029).

For citation: Ryabichenko T.A., Lebedeva N.M., Plotka I.D. Multiple Identities, Acculturation and Adaptation of Russians in Latvia and Georgia. Kul'turno-istoricheskaya psikhologiya = Cultural-Historical Psychology, 2019. Vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 54–64. DOI: 10.17759/chp.2019150206. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

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Information About the Authors

Tatiana A. Ryabichenko, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, NNational Research University “Higher School of Economics”, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4518-5769, e-mail: tanarimail@gmail.com

Nadezhda M. Lebedeva, Doctor of Psychology, Professor, Director of the Center for Socio-Cultural Research, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Employee of the Institute of Psychology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2046-4529, e-mail: lebedhope@yandex.ru

Irina D. Plotka, Doctor of Psychology, The Head of the Department Psychology, Professor, Baltic Psychology and Management University College, the Director of Professional Master Study Programme "Psychology", Riga, Latvia., Baltic international Academy, Riga, Latvia, e-mail: irinaplotka@inbox.lv

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