Feeling half-half? Exploring relational variation of Turkish heritage young adults’ cultural identity compatibility and conflict in Austria.

Author(s)
Jana Vietze, Linda Juang, Maja K. Schachner, Harald Werneck
Abstract

Growing up in multicultural environments, Turkish-heritage individuals in Europe face specific challenges in combining their multiple cultural identities to form a coherent sense of self. Drawing from social identity complexity, this study explores four modes of combining cultural identities and their variation in relational contexts. Problem-centered interviews with Turkish-heritage young adults in Austria revealed the preference for complex, supranational labels, such as multicultural. Furthermore, most participants described varying modes of combining cultural identities over time and across relational contexts. Social exclusion experiences throughout adolescence related to perceived conflict of cultural identities, whereas multicultural peer groups supported perceived compatibility of cultural identities. Findings emphasize the need for complex, multidimensional approaches to study ethnic minorities' combination of cultural identities.

Organisation(s)
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology
External organisation(s)
Universität Potsdam
Journal
Identity. An International Journal of Theory and Research
Volume
18
Pages
60-76
No. of pages
17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/15283488.2017.1410159
Publication date
01-2018
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
501005 Developmental psychology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Anthropology, Sociology and Political Science
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/ae5b0764-d93e-4645-88f9-b53caa035dc0