by Natalia Zañartu-Canihuante, Javier Mella-Norambuena, Valeria Castillo-Salgado, Jaime González-González, Carola Zañartu-Canihuante, Aracely Veloso-San Martín, Fabiola Saez-Delgado
ABSTRACT
In the south-central part of the country, there has been a persistent state of violence due to the protracted conflict between the state, Chilean society, and the Mapuche people. The present study examines the relationship between ethnic discrimination and mental well-being, with a particular focus on the coping mechanisms employed by individuals in response to ethnic discrimination and their impact on their overall emotional health. A group of 488 young students is being studied to ascertain the impact of these factors on the subjects. Of the subjects, 272 identified as male and 246 as female. The mean age of the participants was 21.45 years (SD=4.28). A total of 246 individuals identified as Mapuche, while 242 did not self-identify as such, indicating a discrepancy in the self-reported ethnic affiliation among the population. The subjects of this study reside in major metropolitan areas, which are home to a significant population of Mapuche individuals. Spearman’s test was employed to ascertain correlations, while Yuen’s robust test was utilized to establish comparisons. To this end, we conducted a pathway analysis, with the objective of elucidating the interplay among three variables: the perception of ethnic discrimination, emotional coping mechanisms, and overall well-being. The findings indicate that variables such as religion, denial, self-blame, and denial can exert a detrimental influence on subjective well-being. Conversely, subjective well-being is positively influenced by mood, social, and emotional support.
