Impact of pre-war and post-war intergroup contact on intergroup relations and mental health: Evidence from a Bosnian sample.

Abstract

Using a sample of Bosnian adults (N ϭ 381) we investigated the association between intergroup contact, measures of intergroup relations, and mental health. Structural equation models with latent variables showed that postwar contact had beneficial effects, being positively related to outgroup trust and intergroup forgiveness, and negatively associated with social distance. Moreover, postwar contact had indirect effects on reduced morbidity and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms via increased intergroup forgiveness and reduced social distance. We also analyzed the role of potential inhibitors and facilitators of the beneficial effects of postwar contact, and found that experience of violence played a detrimental role, while prewar contact was related to positive outcomes. Moderation analyses revealed the interactive effects of prewar and postwar contact, as positive effects of present-day contact on intergroup relations (promoting trust and reducing social distance) were strongest when prewar contact was high. Conversely, postwar contact was positively associated with outgroup trust only for respondents with low levels of experience of violence. Findings underline the value of promoting intergroup contact in postconflict settings. Public Significance StatementThis study analyzed whether positive intergroup contact in a sample of Bosnian Muslims had a positive impact on their relations with Serbs after the Bosnian War of 1992-95. Post-war contact had beneficial effects on feelings of trust and forgiveness and had indirect effects on reduced morbidity and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Further findings indicate that pre-war contact and post-war contact combine to promote better outcomes. This suggests that carefully planned interventions could be used to promote positive contact as a valuable part of post-conflict social reconstruction.

Different forms of intergroup contact with former adversary are linked to distinct reconciliatory acts through symbolic and realistic threat

“…Specifically, positive extended contact before the war was positively associated with forgiveness and apology, positive extended contact during the war with support for financial compensation, and positive extended contact after the war with apology. These results extend the previous research on intergroup contact in post‐conflict settings by showing that positive intergroup relations in the aftermath of war may not only be improved by pre‐war direct contact experiences (Paolini et al, ; Voci et al, ) but also through pre‐war intergroup experiences of family members. This is particularly important since in many post‐conflict societies current intergroup contact may not be feasible, and so the time before the conflict may be the only source of positive intergroup encounters.…”

“…To examine the pattern of associations between extended contact at different time points and post-war reconciliation, we asked participants about the experience of their parents and grandparents with former adversary before, during, and after the war. A recent study on direct contact showed that positive direct intergroup contact in the past can promote positive intergroup relations in the present Voci, Hadziosmanovic, Hewstone, Cakal, & Veneziani, 2017).…”

“…To examine the pattern of associations between extended contact at different time points and post‐war reconciliation, we asked participants about the experience of their parents and grandparents with former adversary before, during, and after the war. A recent study on direct contact showed that positive direct intergroup contact in the past can promote positive intergroup relations in the present (Paolini et al, ; Voci, Hadziosmanovic, Hewstone, Cakal, & Veneziani, ). We were interested whether this protective effect of past positive direct intergroup contact extends to positive experiences with former adversaries at different time points in history that are passed on younger generation by older ingroup members.…”

The buffering role of in‐group identification and intergroup contact on the association between perceived discrimination and mental health

“…For example, Bagci and Turnuklu (under review) found that positive contact was directly and positively related to psychological well‐being among ethnic minorities. Voci, Hadziosmanovic, Cakal, Veneziani, and Hewstone () demonstrated post‐war contact to decrease post‐traumatic stress disorder symptoms among Bosnians. Bagci, Turnuklu, and Bekmezci (under review) demonstrated that disabled people's supportive and close friendships with nondisabled people were related to higher psychological well‐being through increased empowerment and social integration.…”

Coping with Negative Attitude Toward Muslims in The Netherlands and Germany: The Role of Religious Moral Values among Indonesian Migrants

“…Thus, the researcher conducted this case study with those eleven respondents. All participants understood that the previous war between Indonesia and Dutch could ignite the intergroup problem (Kteily, Hodson, & Bruneau, 2016;Vedder et al, 2017;Voci & Hewstone, 2017) Case 1 In case number one, the main subject was referred to as "Odo" together with his eight friends. Odo had been living in Utrecht for more than five years.…”