Ethnic Identity and Regional Context in Adolescent Coping Strategies Within Multicultural Societies

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15826/csp.2026.10.2.389

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical stage of identity formation and social adaptation, in which coping with stress plays a key role in well-being. This study examines how ethnic identity and regional context shape adolescents’ coping strategies in multicultural urban environments. The sample included 306 adolescents aged 12–17 from two Russian cities with distinct sociocultural settings. Descriptive statistics and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc tests were conducted. Findings revealed that ethnicity was primarily associated with emotion-focused coping strategies, including focusing on emotions, turning to religion, and humor. Regional context showed pronounced associations with problem-focused and socially embedded strategies, such as active coping, seeking support, as well as behavioral disengagement. Adolescents occupying ethnic minority positions demonstrated more heterogeneous coping repertoires, combining avoidance-oriented strategies (e.g., distraction and social distraction) with context-sensitive adaptive strategies, including humor and seeking social support. In contrast, ethnic majority-group adolescents tended to rely on more stable patterns of problem-focused coping. Overall, the results indicate that adolescent coping is shaped not only by individual factors but also by sociocultural context. The study contributes to understanding adolescent resilience in culturally diverse settings and informs the development of culturally sensitive school-based support programs.

Author Biographies

Yulia A. Afanasyeva, North Ossetian State University named after K.L. Khetagurov, Vladikavkaz, Russia; St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia

Yulia A. Afanasyeva, PhD in Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology, North Ossetian State University named after K. L. Khetagurov, Senior Researcher at the Faculty of Psychology of St. Petersburg State University. Research activities are associated with social psychology, ethnic and cross-cultural psychology, developmental psychology, acmeology, civic identity, and psychological well-being. Her research focuses on coping behavior and various forms of civic and ethnic identity among representatives of different ethnic and religious groups, regions of residence, and professional communities. Particular attention is given to the relationship between ethnic identity and the development of coping strategies at different stages of the individual life course. Models of identity and adaptive behavior in youth and student populations are also examined. In addition, she studies factors associated with psychological well-being and personal identity in different generations.

Svetlana D. Gurieva, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia

Svetlana D. Gurieva, Dr. Sci. (Psychology), Professor, Head of the Department of Social Psychology at the Faculty of Psychology, Saint Petersburg State University. Research and teaching activities are based on extensive experience in higher education, academic research, and international scholarly cooperation. Academic experience includes work as a visiting professor at Kanazawa University and executive-level management training at the Stockholm School of Economics. Professional achievements have been recognized through national and regional honors for contributions to psychological science and higher education, including awards from the Russian Assembly of Professors and the Russian Academy of Education. Her research interests include ethnic identity, interethnic relations, adolescent and youth development, coping and resilience in multicultural contexts, majority–minority dynamics, and sociocultural adaptation.

Anna Yu. Zinina, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia

Anna Yu. Zinina, Junior Research Assistant at the Department of Social Psychology, Saint Petersburg State University. Research activities include participation in empirical studies in social and applied psychology, with a focus on ethnic identity, interethnic relations, and sociocultural factors of adolescent and youth socialization in multicultural contexts. Research is also conducted on psychological aspects of rehabilitation and recovery, with particular attention to value-semantic transformation, time perspective, and coping under conditions of stress and addictive behavior. Her research interests encompass socialization and adaptation processes, ethnic identity and intergroup relations, psychological rehabilitation, coping and resilience under conditions of stress and uncertainty, and developmental processes in adolescence and youth.

Anna V. Maltseva, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia

Anna V. Maltseva, Dr. Sci. (Sociology), Professor at the Department of Social Analysis and Mathematical Methods in Sociology, Saint Petersburg State University. Academic activities are focused on sociological analysis, quantitative research methods, and applied data analysis. Research interests include social structure and institutes, measurement of social indicators, quantitative and mixed-method approaches in sociology, and the analysis of complex social dynamics along with the new sources of data for sociological analysis. Professional contributions have been recognized through academic and professional awards from national educational and scientific institutions for achievements in sociological research and the dissemination of scientific knowledge.

Natalia E. Shilkina, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia

Natalia E. Shilkina, Dr. Sci. (Sociology), Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology of Youth and Youth Policy, Saint Petersburg State University. Academic expertise lies in the sociology of religion, youth studies, and social adaptation under conditions of risk and uncertainty. Research activities are focused on empirical sociological studies of youth, values, and social norms in contemporary Russian society. Professional activities include membership of the federal register of specialists in the scientific and technical sphere and service on the editorial board of the journal Politics and Society. Her research interests encompass youth socialization, religious values and social norms, social adaptation processes, and sociological analysis of risk and uncertainty.

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Published
2026-07-15
How to Cite
Afanasyeva, Y., Gurieva, S., Zinina, A., Maltseva, A., & Shilkina, N. (2026). Ethnic Identity and Regional Context in Adolescent Coping Strategies Within Multicultural Societies. Changing Societies & Personalities, 10(2), 380-398. doi:10.15826/csp.2026.10.2.389
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Vol. 10, No. 2 (2026)
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Articles
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