National identity, ethnic identity and life satisfaction

mutual influences of the sense of belonging in Bolivia

Abstract

This research seeks to clarify the relationship between Bolivian national identity, national self-concept, national self-esteem, ethnic identity and its influence on life satisfaction in urban adolescents in the cities of La Paz and El Alto. This research also tried to determine the influence of the ethnic variable in populations of indigenous or original and non-origin, mestizo or European origin, on national identity, ethnic identity and life satisfaction. 381 students of both sexes, secondary school students from both cities, between 13 and 20 years participated in this study. The results showed that the variables Self-Esteem and Ethnic Identity allow predicting the National Self-concept. Likewise, national self-concept, national self-esteem and ethnic identity turned out to be sensitive to the variable Ethnicity originating, which would mean that the original being would determine higher levels of National Self-Esteem, National Self-concept and Ethnic Identity. Finally, the variable Ethnicity also plays an important role in interpreting Life Satisfaction: Life Satisfaction averages are higher when it is observed that the natives have a high concept and high National Self-Esteem.