Using outgroup comfort to predict Black students' college experiences.

Abstract

This study investigated whether Black students' social comfort with Whites, termed outgroup comfort (OC), predicted outcomes related to academics and mental health. Surveys administered to Black college students near the beginning and end of their first year showed OC measured in the fall predicted outcomes assessed in the spring, including contact with other races, academic concerns among men, and psychological well-being among women. A subsample selected on the basis of high or low OC scores participated in two weeks of experience sampling, revealing students high in OC reported less state anxiety than those low in OC when in academic settings; in nonacademic settings, anxiety did not differ by OC. System-justifying ideology favoring the outgroup was controlled, thus OC is distinct from internalized oppression. Results are discussed in relation to gender differences in racial identity and college student development.

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

“…The present findings highlight the importance of ethnically diverse friendship networks to increase adjustment to school for ethnic minorities and to decrease their feelings of alienation (Adan & Felner, ; Chavous et al, ; Cole & Yip, ; Graham et al, ; Shook & Fazio, ). At the same time, our research indicates that these beneficial effects are more likely to occur among minority youth with a positive and well‐defined ethnic identity.…”

Polyculturalism among Undergraduates at Diverse Universities: Associations through Intergroup Anxiety with Academic and Alcohol Outcomes

“…Many undergraduates at diverse universities may experience intergroup anxiety, which is found to negatively affect cognitive functioning, academics, and well‐being (Cole & Yip, ; Mendes, Major, McCoy, & Blascovich, ; Richeson & Shelton, ). Undergraduates may also use alcohol to cope with intergroup anxiety, which may have adverse consequences, as is found for use of alcohol to cope with general social anxiety (Cludius, Bantin, Stevens, Gerlach, & Hermann, ; Lewis et al., ).…”

“…Yet, intergroup interactions can also feel threatening, stressful, and anxiety‐provoking for some members of both dominant and nondominant racial/ethnic groups (e.g., Britt, Boniecki, Vescio, Biernat, & Brown, ; for reviews, see Sorensen, Nagda, Gurin, & Maxwell, ; Stephan, ). Intergroup stress and anxiety that people experience can motivate them to avoid future intergroup interactions when possible (e.g., Perry, Dovidio, Murphy, & van Ryn, ; for a review, see Stephan, ) and negatively affect cognitive functioning, academic concerns, and well‐being (Cole & Yip, ; Mendes et al., ; Richeson & Shelton, ). Therefore, intergroup anxiety may play a critical role in various behaviors and outcomes among undergraduates at racially/ethnically diverse institutions.…”

Research In Brief: Using Mobile Phones to Collect Daily Experience Data From College Undergraduates

“…ESM methods have also been utilized to better understand the experiences of college students. For example, in order to study the experiences of Black students on predominately White campuses, Cole and Yip (2008) provided Black college freshmen with electronic pagers and paper data diaries. Over a 10-day period, participants logged data regarding their location and mood whenever they were beeped.…”