Improving academic attitudes among ethnic minority youth at risk for early school leaving: the interactive effects of cross‐group friendships and ethnic identity

Abstract

A growing body of research suggests that positive interethnic experiences enhance academic attitudes among ethnic minority youth. A number of studies also show that minority youth with an achieved ethnic identity have better academic attitudes and performance. Integrating these literatures, we aim to verify the combined effects of cross-group friendships and ethnic identity on academic attitudes among a sample of youth at risk for early school leaving. The results showed that cross-group friendships had a positive impact on academic attitudes for minority youth, but not for majority youth. However, individual levels of ethnic identity moderated these effects, which held true for minority youth with higher levels of ethnic identity. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

How intergroup social connections shape immigrants’ responses to social exclusion

“…Cross-ethnic friendships served as a protective mechanism against the negative psychological consequences of negative contact (Paolini et al, 2014). Relatedly, several studies demonstrated that cross-group friendships and contact with majority-group members might benefit minority students with increased positive academic attitudes (Cardinali, Migliorini, Andrighetto, Rania, & Visintin, 2016), skills (Saenz, Ngai, & Hurtado, 2007), and results (Shook & Fazio, 2008; Wölfer, Caro, & Hewstone, 2019).…”

“…According to the literatures on social capital and intergroup contact (e.g., Putnam, 2000; Cardinali et al, 2016), although the benefits of social connections with the majority group seem to be well known, how social connections with other immigrant minorities can moderate immigrants’ psychological responses to social exclusion is far from being clear. Moreover, the exposed literature mainly focused on the effects of perceived discrimination and stigmatization of immigrants that are only conceptually related to the specific constructs of rejection and ostracism.…”