Developing, Validating, and Testing the Explanatory Value of the Diversity of Social Identity Scale

Abstract

<p>The extent to which individuals identify with important in-groups has been shown to be associated with psychological well-being. Little is known, however, on how the diversity (breadth) of in-group associations is related to well-being outcomes, and prior to the present research, no measure existed to simultaneous assess the breadth and salience of social identity diversity in a fully comprehensive way. In the current research, a new measure of social identity diversity (known as the Diversity of Social Identity Scale, or “DoSIS”) was developed and psychometric properties assessed. The scale was completed over the course of the research 789 times by 552 Australian adult participants, aged 18 to 89, via an online questionnaire. Participants also completed other psychological assessments in the course of the study, namely the Holmes Rahe Stress Inventory; Satisfaction with Life Scale; Assessing Emotions (emotional intelligence) Scale; K10, a measure of psychological distress; PANAS, a measure of positive and negative moods; DASS-21, a measure of depression, anxiety, and stress; a measure of the Big 5 Personality traits; and the Ryff Psychological Well-being measure. Correlations examined the association between social identity diversity and other constructs. A two-year longitudinal follow-up provided data for a moderation analysis showing that the level of life stressful events over the course of a year significantly moderated the relationship between social identity diversity and the experience of recent psychological distress such that more diversity predicted distress for individuals who experienced a high level of stressors. The findings provided initial evidence that the DoSIS is a reliable and valid measure and that diversity of social identity is positively correlated with emotional intelligence, the Big 5 factors of extraversion and agreeableness, positive affect, satisfaction with life, and five of the six Ryff well-being subscales. Furthermore, the findings showed that level of life stress events moderates the relationship between social identity diversity at a baseline time with the experience of psychological distress a year later. These results indicate that diversity of social identity is associated with both positive and negative aspects of mental health. </p>