Mental Health Benefits of a Multicultural Identity
Table of Content:
What is a Multicultural Identity?
A multicultural identity is typically most salient for immigrants or children of immigrants who tend to feel connected to both their culture of origin and culture of residence. These multicultural individuals are often required to bridge the cultural, lingual, and religious gap between their two identities. Both micro and macro moments on the day-to-day may leave someone feeling like they’re in an in-between state of sorts—like they neither fully fit into their culture of origin nor their culture of residence. This can be exacerbated when the individual’s race or ethnicity doesn’t match the dominant racial group of the culture of residence or if there are social expectations of how someone in their racial or ethnic group should act. That all being said, if one can process these challenges, there are countless benefits to establishing a positive relationship with their multicultural identity.
Cognitive Benefits
Offset Risk of Dementia or Alzheimer's
The ability to speak multiple languages offsets one’s risk of developing Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease by approximately four years. According to a study from UCLA Health, the brain region that processes language also stores working memory. The activity in this brain region is heavily increased in people who are multilingual because they are often translating conversations in their head, repressing one lingual impulse while prioritizing another. This increase in neural activity ultimately protects them from dementia symptoms. This was true for patients who learned their second language later in life as well as those raised in a multilingual household.
Creativity and Innovation
Multicultural identities are also associated with heightened creativity and innovation. This likely comes from one’s unique ability to look at problems through multiple cultural lenses; thereby being able to explore multiple approaches to solving a given problem. Additionally, the ability to blend various cultural influences may help these individuals become more interesting storytellers, artists, or musicians. This is seen in the work of many artists, including Gloria Estefan, who weaves many languages throughout her musical discography. Playing with language allows her music to resonate with fans worldwide, and gives her more room to explore her sound.
Decreased Risk of Depression, Stress, and Anxiety
One study from an undergraduate psychology student at Arizona State University found that bicultural identities are associated with lower levels of depression, lower levels of stress, and lower levels of anxiety. The author of the study, Janice Dilgert, speculated that a bicultural identity, defined as identifying as a member of two distinct cultures, may be a protective factor against internalizing symptoms.
This may seem counter-intuitive, as many people with multicultural identities experience large-scale stressors, such as immigration, discrimination, racism, learning a new language, and adapting to new cultural customs. However, a key component of this decreased risk comes through finding confidence in navigating both cultural identities. This change will not occur immediately. It’s important to have patience with yourself as you adjust to a new cultural setting and learn to embrace a new culture while honoring your own.
Social Benefits
Increased Tolerance
Coming from a multicultural background is associated with increased tolerance and empathy for others. It offers a deeper level of understanding of other people’s beliefs, attitudes, and actions. The ability to look at a situation from multiple cultural lenses allows individuals to enhance their problem-solving and people skills. They may be able to understand why someone from a Western cultural background would value their individual successes because that serves a significant function in individualistic cultures. On the other hand, they may also be able to connect with someone from a collectivistic culture, who deeply prioritizes familial connection over personal milestones. People with a multicultural background are often more comfortable existing in the middle ground or “grey area” of a problem. This heightened empathy allows for greater connection with the people in their inner circle, leading to more rich and fulfilling interpersonal connections.
High Self-Esteem
People who have found peace in their multicultural identity often show higher rates of self-worth and self-esteem. Their cultural connections often help them find a clear view of who they are, what they value, and what they hope to achieve. Additionally, they are likely to find a sense of belonging within cultural practices and traditions, which can help them see their value in a group setting. This can be seen as a social benefit because a well-developed self-esteem can help someone make new friends, proudly share their cultural values, and overcome challenges including discrimination and microaggressions.
Positive Family Relationships
Cultural connections often promote familial closeness. This can happen in several ways, including through cultural traditions, shared family values around embracing cultural identity through a shared language, food, music, dancing, organized travel to your country of origin, and many other modalities. If you’re looking to enhance the presence of cultural values within your family, it may be a great conversation to start. You could ask everyone to share some of their favorite parts of being within your cultural group, or you could explore some of the ways that your culture helps bring you all closer together. This kind of conversation can also help people develop cultural pride, which will help them connect to their cultural even when family members are not around them.
How to Develop a Multicultural Identity
Developing a multicultural identity requires you to get in touch with both your culture of origin and the dominant culture in the country you’re living in. It may be helpful to start with smaller details, such as listening to music in your first language and in the primary language of your country of residence, eating different types of food, and watching movies that are popular in both cultures. These instances will give you glimpses of each culture’s different value systems, which can help you acknowledge multiple cultural values that you may hold.
When to Seek Help
Developing a healthy relationship with your multiple cultures can be difficult. People often feel isolated if they have recently moved away from their country of origin and are trying to settle in. There may also be feelings of guilt or shame that pop up as you engage in a new culture’s tradition. Therapy may be a helpful resource to examine these feelings with the help of a professional. This therapist would help you understand that your desire to be connected to both cultures is valid, and they may help you develop strategies to implement new experiences into your daily routine. Family therapy could be a great resource as well, especially if you and your family members are embracing the new culture in different ways.
Trust Mental Health offers culturally competent mental health treatment in California. Our therapists speak over fifteen different languages. Accessing therapy with someone who speaks your primary language and who shares your cultural background can help you feel seen, safe, and understood within your therapy session. This allows you to get more out of your therapy experiences, helping you grow and develop as a person. We offer BIPOC therapy in California. You can reach out today for a free 15-minute consultation.
Key Points
Multicultural identities are particularly important for immigrants and children of immigrants. While anyone can have a multicultural identity, these benefits specifically stem from having positive associations with your multiculturalism.
Cognitive benefits of a multicultural identity include an offset risk for dementia, increased creativity and innovation, and a decreased risk of depression.
Social benefits of a positive association with one’s multicultural identity include increased tolerance, higher self-esteem, and positive family relationships.
FAQs
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Individuals can embrace and celebrate their multicultural identity by actively exploring their cultural heritage, participating in cultural events and activities, learning and speaking one’s cultural language, and sharing their experiences with others. Embracing one's multicultural identity is a journey of self-discovery and pride.
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A multicultural identity can contribute to a sense of belonging by allowing individuals to connect with multiple communities and find common ground with people from various backgrounds. It promotes inclusivity and acceptance of diversity.
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Embracing a multicultural identity encourages individuals to explore and understand different cultures, which can enhance self-awareness, resilience, and cognitive flexibility. It promotes continuous learning and development as individuals navigate the complexities of their multiple cultural influences.