British national identity and life satisfaction in ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom

ABSTRACT

This study examines British national identification in survey data from 226 Indians, Pakistanis, Black Caribbeans and Black Africans. Black participants reported stronger ethnic identification and more frequent ethnic discrimination; and Pakistanis reported higher religiosity and more frequent religious discrimination, but stronger British national identification. Uncertainty about the meaning and accessibility of British national identity and perceived ethnic discrimination were associated with decreased British national identification. British national identification was in turn positively associated with life satisfaction. Uncertainty about the meaning and significance of Britishness challenges its value to overall identity maintenance, making it less accessible to ethnic minorities.

KEYWORDS:

• British national identity
• social identity uncertainty
• discrimination
• life satisfaction
• ethnic minorities

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rusi Jaspal

Rusi Jaspal is Professor of Psychology at Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom. His research interests focus on the social psychological aspects of self and identity, especially in minority groups.

Barbara Cristina da Silva Lopes

Barbara Lopes is a clinical psychologist at the CINEICC at the University of Coimbra, Portugal. Her research focuses on cognitive and behavioral models of psychopathology with a special focus on psychosis.

Glynis M. Breakwell

Glynis M. Breakwell developed identity process theory and conducts research on the psychology of risk, mistrust, leadership and social representation processes. She has professorships at Imperial College London, University of Bath and University of Surrey.