An investigation of the identity of first generation American muslim youth participating in muslim students associations

American Muslim youth comprise a minority group at risk for maladaptive identity development and, in turn, a host of negative psychological outcomes. Research on American Muslim youth suggests that an identity that integrates both American and Muslim aspects of self is associated with positive outcomes such as wellbeing. One common way of assessing "integrated" identity is through examining the extent to which American Muslim youth endorse high collective self-esteem in relation to both their American and Muslim cultural groups. In this study, three hypotheses were examined to better understand the predictors and outcomes of American Muslim collective self-esteem in American Muslim youth: (1) higher perceived discrimination will be related to higher collective self-esteem; (2) the relationship between perceived discrimination and collective self-esteem will depend on the degree to which American Muslim youth are embedded and participate in religious settings; (3) higher collective self-esteem, in turn, will be associated with greater social action. Three hundred 18 to 25 year-old, self-identified American Muslim youth were administered a self-report survey in collaboration with the Inspiring American Muslim Youth (IAMY) think tank. Participants were recruited from Muslim students associations, mosques, and community-based organizations across the United States, with a focus on one large metropolitan area. A series of hierarchical linear multiple regressions suggest support for our hypothesis. Namely, higher discrimination was associated with greater American and Muslim collective self-esteem only when youth reported higher levels of religious participation, and greater collective self-esteem in turn promoted greater social action.