THE EFFECT OF DISCRIMINATION ON SELF-EFFICACY AND LIFE SATISFACTION AMONG MIGRANT CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to report the indirect effect of self-efficacy on the relationship between discrimination and life satisfaction in migrant children and adolescents in Chile. Two studies were conducted with 494 migrant children and adolescents in Chile (Study 1, n=292; Study 2, n=202), ranging in age from 9 to 18 years (Study 1, ME=12.30, SD=2.57; Study 2, ME=12.57, SD=2.51). Fifty percent were female (Study 1, n=143; Study 2, n=104) and 50% male (Study 1, n=149; Study 2, n=98). The first study investigated the relationship between discrimination and life satisfaction. The second study replicated this association in a different sample, including self-efficacy as a mediating variable. In both studies, structural equation modelling was used to estimate the proposed relationships. The results showed that discrimination is negatively related to life satisfaction and that this relationship is partially mediated by the self-efficacy of migrant children and adolescents.