The effects of cultural self-construal and the frequency of experienced stressful events on group-representation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was twofold. The first purpose was to examine the relationship between self-construal and group-representation. The second purpose was to investigate whether the type of cultural self-construal and frequency of experienced stressful events have an interactive effect on individuals' group-representation. A factor analysis was conducted to determine the structure of the participants' group-representation. The results confirmed that group-representation consisted of two factors: common identity group vs. common bond group (Prentice, Miller, & Lightdale, 1994). As predicted, the results of a longitudinal survey showed that interdependence was related to common bond group, and the type of cultural self-construal and the frequency of experienced stressful events had an interactive effect on this group-representation. Interdependent individuals showed high common bond group scores when they experienced multiple stressful events, as compared to few, whereas independent individuals exhibited low common bond group scores. The possibility that a mismatch between participants' group-representation and in-group characteristics prevented us from confirming these effects was discussed.