3-215 - Relations among Diverse Adolescents’ ERI, National Identities, and Their Attitudes Towards Intergroup Contact

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

In an increasingly global society, fostering adolescents’ capacity to build community with individuals with diverse backgrounds is crucial. Research suggests that adolescents’ identities (e.g., ethnic-racial identity; ERI) may influence their attitudes towards intergroup contact (e.g. Rivas-Drake et al, 2018); however, empirical work in this area is limited. This symposium explores how adolescents’ ERI informs their relationships and identities. Paper one examined how ERI centrality and public regard (PR) related to the other group orientation (OGO) of Black, White, and Latinx adolescents in the U.S Southwest and Midwest. Results revealed different patterns of associations among groups, particularly between white students and students of color. Paper two explored how ethnic dating preferences related to the ethnic-racial and American identities of Asian-American adolescents in the U.S Southeast. Findings suggested that preferences varied over time, but ERI positively predicted same-ethnic preferences. Paper three examined ethnic and national identity among German 9th graders. Results revealed that ethnic identity was positively related to national identity for Muslim and non-Muslim girls, but Islamophobia moderated this relation for Muslim girls. Finally, paper four explored how relationships with mentors informed ERI development among adolescents of color in the U.S. Northeast. Findings revealed that mentor’s impact varied as a function of whether mentors shared an ethnic-racial background with adolescents. Furthermore, although mentors positively influenced ERI centrality, their influence did not extend to adolescents’ perspectives on race in their other social relationships. Taken together, these papers illustrate how adolescents’ ERI may inform their attitudes towards intergroup relationships and national identity.

Sub Unit

• Race, Ethnicity, Culture, Context

Chairs

• Kristia Wantchekon, Harvard University

• Adriana Umaña-Taylor, Harvard University

Individual Presentations

• Relations among Racially and Geographically Diverse Adolescents’ ERI Public Regard, Centrality, and Other Group Orientation - Presenting Author: Kristia Wantchekon, Harvard University; Non-Presenting Author: Adriana Umaña-Taylor, Harvard University; Non-Presenting Author: Elana R. McDermott, Harvard University; Non-Presenting Author: Deborah Rivas-Drake, University of Michigan; Non-Presenting Author: Abunya Medina, University of Michigan

• A Mixed-Method Investigation of Asian American adolescents’ Identity and Ethnic Dating Preferences - Presenting Author: Michele Chan, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Non-Presenting Author: Lisa Kiang, Wake Forest University; Non-Presenting Author: Melissa R. Witkow, Willamette university

• Societal Islamophobia, Heritage and National Identity Among Muslim and Non-Muslim Adolescents - Presenting Author: Ursula Moffitt, University of Potsdam; Non-Presenting Author: Linda Juang, Potsdam University; Non-Presenting Author: Moin Syed, University of Minnesota

• Natural Mentors’ Role in the Ethnic Racial Identity Development of Adolescents of Color - Presenting Author: Megan Satterthwaite Freiman, Harvard Graduate School of Education; Non-Presenting Author: Nancy Hill, Harvard University; Non-Presenting Author: John Perella, Revere Public Schools; Non-Presenting Author: Belle Liang, Boston College