Cross‐Ethnic Friendships and Intergroup Attitudes Among Asian American Adolescents

Abstract

This study examined cross-ethnic friendship choices and intergroup attitudes in a sample of 762 sixth grade Asian American students (Mage=11.5 years) attending one of 19 middle schools that varied in ethnic composition. Multiple measures of friendship (quantity and quality) and intergroup attitudes (affective, cognitive, behavioral) toward White, Latino, and Black grademates were assessed. The results showed that Asian American students over-nominated White students and under-nominated Latino and Black students as their friends when school availability of each ethnic group was accounted for. Cross-ethnic friendships were related to better intergroup attitudes, especially the behavioral dimension of attitudes. Cross-ethnic friendships were least likely to change attitudes towards Blacks. Implications for future research, educational practice, and attitude intervention programs were discussed.

Same‐Ethnic, Interethnic, and Interracial Friendships Among Asian Early Adolescents

“…Consistent with previous research (Chen & Graham, 2015; Graham et al, 2014), Asian students’ same-ethnic friendships were related to stronger ethnic identity, whereas interracial friendships were related to improved intergroup relations and feeling safer at school.…”

“…When perceived as “same ethnic”, interethnic friendships would function like same-ethnic friendships; when perceived as “different”, they would function more like interracial friendships. We focused on a sixth grade Asian sample because Asian students have been largely neglected in the friendship literature (Chen & Graham, 2015), and because during early adolescence and the transition to middle school, friendships take on added significance (Brechwald & Prinstein, 2011). …”

Ethnic‐Racial Identity and Friendships in Early Adolescence

“…() noted, the quality of the friendship may be particularly important in diverse schools that afford opportunities for cross‐group interactions (see also Syed & Juan, ). Because of resource and time limitations, we were unable to capture the quality of youths' friendships, but as shown by Chen and Graham (), this is an important feature to consider in the design of future work in this area.…”

Identification with Multiple Groups in Multiethnic Middle Schools: What Predicts Social Ingroup Overlap?

“…It is important to know why exposure to crossethnic peers was especially predictive of the development of cross-ethnic friendships among Asian American youth. Interestingly, Asian American students’ friendship groups tend to be particularly segregated (Chen & Graham, 2015; Currarini, Jackson, and Pin, 2010), and yet they report their cross-ethnic friendships as especially personally valuable (Currarini et al, 2010). Thus, although relatively rare, close relationships with cross-ethnic peers are particularly impactful for Asian American youth.…”