Flourishing in the Midst of Microaggression: The Experience of Existential Well-Being of Puncak Jaya Students in Yogyakarta
Keywords:
Flourishing; Hypervigilance; Microaggressions; Minority Stress Theory; Puncak Jaya Students.
Abstract
Exposure to subtle daily interaction discrepancies, or microaggressions, can trigger psychological distress for minority students in university towns. This study aims to explore in-depth the daily experiences of microaggressions and their dynamic impact on the psychological well-being and existential dimensions of students from Puncak Jaya Regency, Papua, in Yogyakarta. Utilizing a qualitative approach with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), primary data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with four (4) active students selected via purposive sampling. Data analysis was conducted inductively and idiographically, adhering to the IPA thematic analysis procedure. The study extracted three super-ordinate themes: (1) Typology of distinct microaggressions in social interactions, encompassing microinsults regarding intellectual capacity and microinvalidations regarding regional identity; (2) Mechanisms of proximal distress and hypervigilance, manifested as constant alertness in public spaces and internalizing distress accompanied by behavioral code-switching; and (3) Existential vulnerability and collective resilience, characterized by the erosion of academic self-esteem adapted through protective isolation, existential identity crises, and the optimization of regional student communities (IPMAPUJA) as a collective psychosocial buffer. These findings provide empirical confirmation of Minority Stress Theory (MST) within the context of communal societies in Southeast Asia, while highlighting the importance of providing safe spaces and culturally competent clinical interventions to support the achievement of optimal psychological growth (flourishing) among migrant students.
References
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Smith, T. S., Silva, L. B., & Jones, R. M. (2017). Microaggressions and existential distress: Threat to purpose in life and identity authenticity among college minority students. Existential Psychology Review, 14(3), 112–128.
Solórzano, D., Ceja, M., & Yosso, T. (2000). Critical race theory, racial microaggressions, and campus racial climate: The experiences of African American college students. Journal of Negro Education, 69(1/2), 60–73.
Sue, D. W. (2010). Microaggressions in everyday life: Race, gender, and sexual orientation. John Wiley & Sons.
Sue, D. W., Calle, C. Z., Mendez, N., Alsaidi, S., & Glaeser, E. (2020). Microaggressions and marginality: Manifestation, dynamics, and impact. John Wiley & Sons.
Torres-Harding, S. R., Andrade, A. L., & Diaz, C. E. (2012). The Racial Microaggressions Scale (RMAS): Construction, reliability, and validity. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 18(2), 153–164. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027658
Wang, J., & Wang, L. (2024). The psychological price of cultural adaptation: Internalizing distress and cognitive cost of impression management. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 55(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.1177/00220221231210943
Wei, M., Ku, T. Y., & Liao, K. Y. H. (2010). Minority stress and minority college students’ distress: The role of hypervigilance and interpersonal openness. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 57(4), 411–422. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021142
Widiantoro, F. W. (2026). Flourishing Psychology: The Dynamics of Positive Mental Health. Deepublish.
Wijanarko, A., & Syafiq, M. (2013). A descriptive study on the self-adjustment of Papuan students in Surabaya. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Psychology, 4(1), 12–25. https://doi.org/10.26740/jptt.v4n1.p12-25
Wijanarko, A., & Syafiq, M. (2017). Social prejudice and social distancing against Papuan students in the Javanese study city. Journal of Social Psychology, 15(2), 89–104. https://doi.org/10.7454/jps.v15i2.1143
Zafina, N., & Kusumaningrum, F. (2021). Barriers to interpersonal interaction of migrants based on the attribution of regional stereotypes. Journal of Psychological Research, 12(3), 177–190. https://doi.org/10.21831/jpp.v12i3.34211
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Duran, A., Perez, B., & Flores, M. (2014). Academic self-esteem and the impact of microaggressions on racial minority college students. Journal of College Student Development, 55(4), 391–406. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2014.0038
Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the management of spoiled identity. Prentice-Hall.
Human Rights Watch. (2024). World report 2024: Events of 2023 in Indonesia and Papua. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/indonesia
Jacobsen, B. (2006). The existential dimension. In A. L. Comunian & U. P. Gielen (Eds.), International perspectives on human development (pp. 411–424). Science Publishers.
Johnson, I. R., Thomas, K. M., & Brown, L. A. (2021). The cognitive and emotional costs of code-switching among minority professionals. Journal of Applied Psychology, 106(5), 723–739. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000801
Keyes, C. L. M. (2002). The mental health continuum: From languishing to flourishing in life. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 43(2), 207–222. https://doi.org/10.2307/3090197
Kohli, R., & Solórzano, D. G. (2012). Teachers, please learn our names: Racial microaggressions and the K-12 classroom. Race Ethnicity and Education, 15(4), 441–462. https://doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2012.674026
Lestari, W., & Purba, D. E. (2022). The role of regional student bonds as a safe space and psychosocial buffer in the university environment. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Psychology, 13(1), 56–71. https://doi.org/10.26740/jptt.v13n1.p56-71
Lian, H., & Rahmawati, A. (2021). Social hypervigilance and manifestation of proximal stressors in minority students outside Java. Journal of Psychological Intervention, 13(2), 113–126. https://doi.org/10.20885/jip.v13i2.18931
Littlewood, R., & Lipsedge, M. (1982). Aliens and alienists: Ethnic minorities and psychiatry. Penguin Books.
McCluney, C. L., Robotham, K., Lee, S. S., Smith, R., & Gaither, S. E. (2021). The costs of being true to oneself: Code-switching as a strategy for managing minority stigma. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 27(4), 612–627. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000451
Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129(5), 674–697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674
Nadal, K. L., Griffin, K. E., Wong, Y., Hamit, S., & Rasmus, M. (2014). The impact of racial microaggressions on mental health: Implications for counseling and psychotherapy. Journal of Counseling & Development, 92(1), 57–66. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2014.00130.x
Ong, A. D., Burrow, A. L., Fuller-Rowell, T. E., Ja, N. M., & Sue, D. W. (2013). Racial microaggressions and daily well-being among Asian Americans. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60(2), 188–199. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031736
Pangaribuan, R., & Rahayu, S. (2023). The dynamics of academic self-adjustment of Eastern Indonesian students on the island of Java. Journal of Educational Psychology, 10(1), 34–48. https://doi.org/10.21009/jpp.101.03
Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Peshkin, A. (1988). In search of subjectivity—One's own. Educational Researcher, 17(7), 17–21. https://doi.org/10.2307/1174381
Prasetyo, B., & Haryadi, T. (2019). Barriers to daily social relations and psychological well-being of minority student groups. Journal of Psychological Science, 8(2), 210–223. https://doi.org/10.17977/um023v8i2p210-223
Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1069
Smith, J. A., & Osborn, M. (2015). Interpretative phenomenological analysis. In J. A. Smith (Ed.), Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods (3rd ed., pp. 25–54). SAGE Publications.
Smith, J. A., Flowers, P., & Larkin, M. (2022). Interpretative phenomenological analysis: Theory, method and research (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Smith, T. S., Silva, L. B., & Jones, R. M. (2017). Microaggressions and existential distress: Threat to purpose in life and identity authenticity among college minority students. Existential Psychology Review, 14(3), 112–128.
Solórzano, D., Ceja, M., & Yosso, T. (2000). Critical race theory, racial microaggressions, and campus racial climate: The experiences of African American college students. Journal of Negro Education, 69(1/2), 60–73.
Sue, D. W. (2010). Microaggressions in everyday life: Race, gender, and sexual orientation. John Wiley & Sons.
Sue, D. W., Calle, C. Z., Mendez, N., Alsaidi, S., & Glaeser, E. (2020). Microaggressions and marginality: Manifestation, dynamics, and impact. John Wiley & Sons.
Torres-Harding, S. R., Andrade, A. L., & Diaz, C. E. (2012). The Racial Microaggressions Scale (RMAS): Construction, reliability, and validity. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 18(2), 153–164. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027658
Wang, J., & Wang, L. (2024). The psychological price of cultural adaptation: Internalizing distress and cognitive cost of impression management. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 55(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.1177/00220221231210943
Wei, M., Ku, T. Y., & Liao, K. Y. H. (2010). Minority stress and minority college students’ distress: The role of hypervigilance and interpersonal openness. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 57(4), 411–422. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021142
Widiantoro, F. W. (2026). Flourishing Psychology: The Dynamics of Positive Mental Health. Deepublish.
Wijanarko, A., & Syafiq, M. (2013). A descriptive study on the self-adjustment of Papuan students in Surabaya. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Psychology, 4(1), 12–25. https://doi.org/10.26740/jptt.v4n1.p12-25
Wijanarko, A., & Syafiq, M. (2017). Social prejudice and social distancing against Papuan students in the Javanese study city. Journal of Social Psychology, 15(2), 89–104. https://doi.org/10.7454/jps.v15i2.1143
Zafina, N., & Kusumaningrum, F. (2021). Barriers to interpersonal interaction of migrants based on the attribution of regional stereotypes. Journal of Psychological Research, 12(3), 177–190. https://doi.org/10.21831/jpp.v12i3.34211
Published
2026-07-23
How to Cite
Jekson Wenda, & Fx. Wahyu Widiantoro. (2026). Flourishing in the Midst of Microaggression: The Experience of Existential Well-Being of Puncak Jaya Students in Yogyakarta. International Journal of Education, Vocational and Social Science , 5(03), 5962-5980. https://doi.org/10.63922/ijevss.v5i03.5428
Contact Person +6282139474255
Email : ijevss@citakonsultindo.or.id / editor.ijevss@gmail.com
