Abstract
Although a number of studies have investigated the relationship between multicultural identity and psychological well-being, few of them have addressed the problem of body dissatisfaction. The present study tried to advance the field by examining whether multicultural identity types predicted body dissatisfaction, and whether cultural differences in body parts dissatisfaction exist. The sample consisted of 103 college students and were either American (39.8%) or Asian/Asian American (60.2%). Multicultural identity, body dissatisfaction, and other factors related to identity formation were measured using Qualtrics. The findings demonstrated the existence of three types of multicultural identity: assimilation, separation, and integration. As predicted, assimilation was associated with higher levels of discrimination, but, surprisingly, also higher levels of openness. Male Asian/Asian Americans reported more upper body concerns than American males and overall more body dissatisfaction. No sample differences were obtained when comparing female Asian/Asian Americans to those from America. Multicultural status did not predict overall body dissatisfaction. This study provided support for the association between multicultural identity types and experiences of discrimination; however, the only cultural differences around body dissatisfaction were found in males. More research with larger sample sizes is necessary to substantiate these findings further.