A Mixed-Method Investigation of Asian American adolescents’ Identity and Ethnic Dating Preferences

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

Integrative Statement

Interracial relationships are increasing in the U.S. alongside rapid growth in minority and immigrant groups (Pew Research Center, 2015). Asian-Americans, the fastest growing immigrant group in the U.S. (Tseng et al., 2016), have the second highest interracial marriage rate (Pew Research Center, 2015) and are more likely than members of other minority groups to date White-Americans (Mok, 1999). However, little is known about how interracial dating preferences develop among Asian-American adolescents.

This study provides new insight on this understudied topic by examining changes in and predictors of ethnic dating preferences among Asian-American adolescents, which is particularly relevant considering that early romantic relationships are intricately linked with identity formation and eventual adult marriage choices. (Wang et al., 2006).
Our study explored changes in ethnic dating preferences across adolescents’ four years of high school. We also investigated the intra-individual associations between ethnic dating preferences and identity (e.g., ethnic identity and American identity), family relationships (i.e., closeness to parents), and perceived discrimination, while considering possible effects of gender and generational status. Given the limited research on this topic, open-ended narratives shared by youth as explanations for their preferences were qualitatively explored.

Asian-American 9th and 10th graders recruited from the Southeastern U.S. were followed for four consecutive years (N=169, 60% female, 74% U.S.-born). The largest reported heritage group identified as Hmong (28%). Multiethnic were also reported (e.g., mostly within Asian groups; 22%), as were South Asian (e.g., Indian, Pakistani; 11%). Approximately 8% identified as Chinese, and 23% comprised a mix of Montagnard, Laotian, Vietnamese, Filipino/a, Japanese, Korean, and Thai. Ethnic dating preferences (same or other) and explanations were assessed with open-ended responses. Ethnic identity (regard, centrality, exploration, belonging), American identity (regard, centrality), closeness to mother and father, and discrimination were assessed through established Likert-type scales.

Results indicate that 36.8% of adolescents changed ethnic dating preferences at least once over the four years. 62.6% preferred a same-ethnic dating partner at least once over the course of the study. 70.3% preferred a different-ethnic preference at least once. Ethnic identity variables significantly predicted the likelihood of preferring a same-ethnic partner (centrality: b = .73, p < .001; regard: b = .47, p < .001; belonging: b = .65, p < .001; exploration: b = .59, p < .001). Closeness to mother (b = .31, p < .05) and father (b = .28, p < .05) were also significant positive predictors of same-ethnic preferences. An interaction emerged, such that for participants who were not U.S born, increased perceptions of discrimination were associated with a decreased likelihood of preferring same-ethnicity dating partners. For those who were U.S.-born, perceptions of discrimination were associated with an increased likelihood of preferring same-ethnicity partners. No other effects by generation or gender were found. Qualitative investigations of the reasoning given by the adolescents highlighted culture, family, and shared understanding as strong influences, and a sample of these explanations are shown in Table 2. Discussion will focus on the role of ethnic identity and family in shaping preferences, considering both quantitative and qualitative findings.

Authors

• Michele Chan, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
  Presenting Author

• Lisa Kiang, Wake Forest University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Melissa R. Witkow, Willamette university
  Non-Presenting Author