Psychosocial benefits of cross-ethnic friendships in urban middle schools.
To examine the unique functions of same- and cross-ethnic friendships, Latino (n = 536) and African American (n = 396) sixth-grade students (Mage = 11.5 years) were recruited from 66 classrooms in 10 middle schools that varied in ethnic diversity. Participants reported on the number of same- and cross-ethnic friends, perceived vulnerability, friendship quality, and the private regard dimension of ethnic identity. Whereas same-ethnic friendships were uniquely associated with stronger private regard, more ethnic diversity and cross-ethnic friendships were uniquely associated with less perceived vulnerability. Multilevel structural equation modeling tested whether cross-ethnic friendships mediated the diversity-vulnerability relation. Although cross-ethnic friendships did not significantly mediate this relation at the classroom level, these friendships predicted less vulnerability at the individual student level.
University of California, Los Angeles.
Sandra
S
Graham
Anke
A
Munniksma
Jaana
J
Juvonen
D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012572:School Health Services; D012933:Social Identification; D014505:Urban Population