Contextual and Individual-Personal Factors of the Psychological Adaptation of the Ethnic Majority in Estonia and Kyrgyzstan

In the process of acculturation individual-personal and contextual factors do not operate independently of each other but demonstrate close relationships. In this regard, it is important to consider personal and contextual factors of adaptation together, within the framework of a single integrated approach. This exploratory study was aimed at investigating complex personal-contextual factors of the psychological adaptation of the ethnic majority in Estonia and Kyrgyzstan. The sample consisted of 300 Estonians ( M age = 37.09, SD = 17.34; females = 46.4 %) and 300 Kyrgyz ( M age = 35.83, SD = 16.47; females = 68.0 %). The authors used scales from The MIRIPS Questionnaire , The Place Identity Scale (O. Droseltis and V.L. Vignoles) and methods for measuring identities and intercultural attitudes developed at CSCR of HSE. Psychological adaptation was measured using The Satisfaction with Life Scale - SWLS by E. Diener and The Self-Esteem Scale - RSES by M. Rosenberg. Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) was used to identify three complex factors in both countries: ethnocultural identity, multicultural orientation, and perceived inclusiveness of context. According to the results, in both Estonia and Kyrgyzstan, ethnocultural identity was positively related to exclusive acculturation expectations; multicultural orientation was positively related to the expectation of integration and negatively related to the expectation of assimilation; and perceived inclusiveness of context was negatively related to the expectation of separation. Positive relationships between perceived inclusiveness of context and indicators of psychological well-being were also culturally universal.