Ethnic‐racial socialization in mono‐racial Asian American and Pacific Islander families: A 21‐year systematic literature review

Abstract

This study systematically reviewed the literature on ethnic‐racial socialization (ERS) in mono‐racial Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) families in the United States. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we examined what is known about (1) ERS strategies used, (2) child and parent factors related to ERS, and (3) the relation of ERS to child outcomes in mono‐racial AAPI families. We included peer‐reviewed, original studies published between January 2002 and August 2023, abstracted in Sociological Abstracts, PubMed, and/or PsychINFO, and focused on ERS in AAPI families. Fifty‐eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The reviewed studies show that mono‐racial AAPI families engage in ERS, but parents' messages tend to focus on positive aspects of ethnicity‐race (e.g., ethnic pride) and avoid negative aspects (e.g., discrimination). However, due to the COVID‐19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter, parents are increasingly willing to address the negative aspects of ethnicity‐race, including racism and anti‐racism, to prepare their children for a racialized society. ERS is related to AAPI child identity, psycho‐social outcomes, ethnic‐racial attitudes and experiences, and other outcomes but in a variety of contingent ways. We identify gaps in the literature and recommend future research on ERS in AAPI families.