Ethnic Identity and Psychological Well-Being of Russians in Post-Soviet Space: The Role of Diaspora

299

Abstract

The article analyzes the role of different forms of diaspora activity as a mediator of the relationship between ethnic identity and psychological well-being of Russians in Kyrgyzstan and Estonia (N = 609). The results of structural equation modeling showed that ethnic identity salience is significantly positively associated with the involvement in all types of Russian diaspora activities both in Kyrgyzstan and in Estonia. Russians’ participation in all types of diaspora activity is significantly higher in Kyrgyzstan than in Estonia. Participation in different types of diaspora activity mediates the relationship of ethnic identity and psychological well-being: in Kyrgyzstan — participation in public actions and activity aimed at preservation of collective historical memory; in Estonia — activity aimed at maintenance of Russian language and culture. The results can serve as the basis for practical recommendations for supporting the Russian diaspora in the post-Soviet space.

General Information

Keywords: ethnic identity, diaspora activity, psychological well-being, Russians, Kyrgyzstan, Estonia

Journal rubric: Empirical Research

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/chp.2021170402

Funding. The reported study was funded by Russian Science Foundation (RCF), project number 20-18-00268

Received: 16.08.2021

Accepted:

For citation: Lebedeva N.M. Ethnic Identity and Psychological Well-Being of Russians in Post-Soviet Space: The Role of Diaspora. Kul'turno-istoricheskaya psikhologiya = Cultural-Historical Psychology, 2021. Vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 16–24. DOI: 10.17759/chp.2021170402.

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Information About the Authors

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

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