Can cross-group friendships influence minority students' well-being at historically white universities?

Psychol Sci. 2008 Sep;19(9):933-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02179.x.

Abstract

Past research has demonstrated the negative impact of race-based rejection sensitivity (RS-race) on institutional belonging and satisfaction among minority-group students in predominantly White universities. Given research documenting the benefits of cross-group friendship for intergroup attitudes, we tested whether friendships with majority-group peers would attenuate the effects of RS-race within these contexts. In a longitudinal study of African American students (Study 1), cross-group friendships with majority-group peers buffered students high in RS-race from lack of belonging and dissatisfaction at their university. An experimental intervention (Study 2) that induced cross-group friendship replicated the findings and established their specificity for minority-group students. We discuss implications for efforts toward diversifying educational settings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cultural Diversity
  • Female
  • Friends / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Peer Group
  • Personality Inventory
  • Prejudice*
  • Psychological Distance
  • Quality of Life / psychology*
  • Rejection, Psychology
  • Social Adjustment
  • Social Environment*
  • Social Identification*
  • White People / psychology*