The Influence of Ethnic Identity Status and Gender-Role Identity on Social Anxiety and Avoidance in Latina Adolescents

The objective of this study was to investigate social avoidance in Latina adolescents as a function of their ethnic identity status and gender role identity. Seventy-two Latina college freshmen completed measures of social anxiety and avoidance, gender role identity, and ethnic identity. Main effects of gender role identity and ethnic identity status emerged. Participants with androgynous gender role identities scored lower on both social anxiety and social avoidance than participants with undifferentiated, feminine, or masculine gender role identities. Also, achieved ethnic identity status and exploration ethnic identity status individuals scored lower on social anxiety and avoidance than their unexamined status counterparts. Findings are explained in terms of gender role identity and ethnic identity development as probable protective factors during adolescence. (Contains 24 references.) (Author/SM)