Ethnicity and adjustment: a comparative study of Maltese- and Anglo-Australian adolescentsAuthor: Victoria Borg ResultsPath analysis was used to test the theoretical model (Figure 1). Ethnicity was predictive of parent-child conflict (g = .332, t = 3.790, p < .05). Maltese adolescents experienced significantly more parent-child conflicts than Anglo-Australian adolescents. Ethnicity was also predictive of self-esteem (g =-.225, t = -2.679, p < .05). Maltese adolescents had a lower self-esteem than Anglo-Australian adolescents (t = -4.21, p <. 05). The relationship between gender and parent-child conflicts was not significant (g = -.069, t = -.794, p > .05). The independent t-test for parent-child conflicts by gender was also consistent with this finding. No significant differences were found between males and females in parent-child conflicts (t = .65, p > .05). The relationship between gender and self-esteem was not significant (g = -.065, t = -.822, p > .05). The independent t-test between these two variables was consistent with this finding. There were no significant differences between males and females in self-esteem (t = .52, p > .05). The relationship between gender and stress was not significant (g = -.032, t = .425, p > .05). The independent t-test between these variables was consistent with this finding. No significant gender differences were found in stress (t = -.52, p >.05).* Effect coefficients. Tables I and 2 present the direct effect, indirect effect and total effect path coefficients of various variables on stress. The most important influence of ethnicity was on parent-child conflicts, followed by self-esteem, which was negatively affected. Gender had no significant relationship with any of the above 3 variables. A two-way Anova analysis found no gender differences among adolescents from Victoria University of Technology and secondary college on self-esteem, parent-child conflicts and stress. Strong negative correlations were found between parent-child conflicts and self-esteem -4.812, p <.05). The more conflicts the participants experienced, the lower (b = -.404, the self-esteem. Positive correlations were found between stress and parent child conflicts (b = .198, t =2.297, p <.05). The more conflicts experienced by the participants, the higher the stress level. A negative relationship was found between self-esteem and stress (b = -.458, t = -5.315. p < .05). The lower the self-esteem, the higher the stress level experienced by the individual. [*Note:b (beta) is the path correlation between the dependent variables g (gamma) is the path correlation between the dependent and independent variables.] Table 1: Direct effect, indirect effect and total effect of ethnicity on various variablesVariables | Total effect | Indirect effect | Direct effect | Parent-Child Conflict | .332 | -- | .332 | Self-Esteem | -.359 | -.134 | -.225 | Stress | .230 | 230 | -- |
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Table 2: Direct effect, indirect effect and total effect of gender on various variables
Variables | Total effect | Indirect effect | Direct effect | Parent-Child Conflict | -.069 | -- | -.069 | Self-Esteem | -.037 | .028 | -.065 | Stress | .036 | .003 | .033 |
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Analysis of Maltese Adolescents. Table 3 shows the relationship between parent-child conflicts, self-esteem, stress and ethnic identification. Maltese identification is negatively correlated with parent-child conflicts and stress and positively correlated with self-esteem. Maltese adolescents who identified with the Maltese culture were likely to experience less parent-child conflicts, lower levels of stress and higher levels of self-esteem.
Table 3: Correlations between parent-child conflicts, self-esteem, stress and Maltese identification.
Conflict | Esteem | Stress | Maltese identification | Conflict | -.4744 | .4043 | -.2650* | Esteem | | .5508 | .3413* | Stress | | | -.2470* |
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*Significant at alpha .05. Source: Maltese Background Youth - Editors Cauchi M, Borland H, Adams R, 1999, [Europe Australia Institute], p 62
    
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