Indian Americans are one of the fastest growing ethnic minority groups in the USA, yet little is known about how their emerging adult population engage in identity exploration and define self in the context of dual influences from a strong familial orientation and a strongly individualistic American social environment. Using a mixed-methods approach, the present study investigated bicultural identity—Indian (ethnic) and American (national) identities, and self-construal in-family in a sample of 196 18–29-year-old Indian Americans. Quantitative findings indicated that participants comparably identified with their Indian and American selves, construed their sense of self as more related than independent from family, and described family closeness as characterizing Indian identity. Age differences were found for self-construal and bicultural identity, and gender differences were found for self-construal. Qualitative findings indicated that participants had different definitions for Indian and American identities, experienced different expectations and values for independence and interdependence based on context, and viewed themselves as largely familial despite endorsing an American identity. Participants shared common conflicts and challenges that occur when they navigate between Indian and American influences. Together, the findings highlight the salience of both Indian and American identities and the centrality of parents’ influence in the self-definitions of 18–29-year-old Indian Americans. Learning about the unique underlying dynamics and challenges faced by this ethnic minority group as they navigate their self-construal and bicultural identity development provides insights in how to assist Indian American emerging adults as they manage and move between different cultures, value systems, and expectations.

印第安裔美国人是美国增长最快的少数族裔群体之一，但对于他们的新兴成年人如何在强大的家庭取向和强烈的个人主义社会环境双重影响的背景下进行身份探索和定义自我的了解甚少。本研究采用混合方法，调查了196名18-29岁印度裔美国人的双文化身份（印度（种族）和美国（国家）身份，以及自我建构的家庭）。定量调查结果表明，参与者与印度和美国的自我具有可比性，认为他们的自我意识比独立于家庭更重要，并将亲密关系描述为印度身份的特征。发现自我建构和双文化身份的年龄差异，和性别差异被发现为自我解释。定性研究结果表明，参与者对印度和美国的身份有不同的定义，对基于背景的独立和相互依赖具有不同的期望和价值观，并且尽管支持美国的身份，但仍将自己视为家族成员。与会人员分享了在印度和美国影响力之间徘徊时发生的共同冲突和挑战。总之，这些发现凸显了印度裔和美国裔身份的显着性以及父母影响力在18至29岁印度裔美国人的自定义中的核心地位。