Ethnic identity as a social dimension of identity is argued to be developmentally important for psychological
well-being. However, the relationships between these constructs are mainly examined in
Western contexts, amongst dominant–non-dominant groups. We investigate ethnic identity across
the mainstream group of a prototypical Western society (the USA) and several multi-ethnic subSaharan
African countries (Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, and Zambia), as well as how it relates
to psychological well-being. A total of 1255 university students (61.8% females, Mage = 20.94 years,
SD = 2.97) completed a questionnaire with ethnic identity and psychological well-being measures. Results
indicated that ethnic identity was most salient in two different South African ethnocultural samples
and least salient in a mainstream US sample. These results suggest that groups that are more
exposed to ethnic strain in multicultural societies tend to have more salient ethnic identities. Furthermore,
the underlying structure in the ethnic identity psychological well-being relationship was similar
across groups.