The Relationship between Bicultural Acceptance Attitude and Self-Esteem among Multicultural Adolescents: The Mediating Effects of Parental Support

Abstract

As the rate of international marriage increases, the adaptation of multicultural families and their children—multicultural adolescents—remains an issue requiring continuous monitoring, support, and improvement. This study investigates the mediating effects of parental support on the relationship between bicultural acceptance attitude and self-esteem among multicultural adolescents. Data are derived from 1197 high school sophomores, all of whom were multicultural adolescents, surveyed by the National Youth Policy Institute in 2018. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and hierarchical regression were used during data analysis. Bicultural acceptance attitude, parental support, and self-esteem all showed mutual positive correlations. Parental support had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between bicultural acceptance attitude and self-esteem. Multicultural adolescents exposed to both parent’s cultures are more likely to develop positive self-esteem and a healthy personality if they receive the support of their parents. The self-esteem of multicultural adolescents can be improved by implementing measures to nurture a bicultural acceptance attitude and parental support.