Sociological study of ethnic identity of adolescents in Zahedan and the impact of religious, national and Western dimensions on it

The present study was conducted to investigate the ratio of ethnic identity to identity dimensions among students in Zahedan, Iran. The sample of the study consisted of 400 male and female students studying in Zahedan. The data were collected through questionnaire. The data analysis has been performed by SPSS software and we have used descriptive statistics, such as cross-table, and inferential statistics, correlation coefficient, and two-variable and multivariable regression analysis and also path analysis techniques. In this study, symbolic interactionism was used to illustrate the relationship between ethnic identity and other dimensions of identity. Considering the theory itself, it can be shown that identity is social in its nature and subject-matter; accordingly, ethnic identity and identity dimensions can be adequately explained. The findings indicate that there is a significant relationship between ethnic identity and its dimensions, namely national identity, religious identity, and global identity. This relationship is indeed positive and direct, and also religious identity has the highest relationship, followed by national identity, and global identity has the least relationship. In this study, boys had higher levels in having the above-mentioned identities than girls.