CROSS-RACE FRIENDSHIPS AND ADJUSTMENT : LONGITUDINAL STUDIES OF ASIAN AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS

Asian American adolescents’ cross-race friendships are poorly understood. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study for Adolescent to Adult Health, two longitudinal studies (Ns = 915 and 1,154) investigated the associations between cross-race friendships and psychosocial and academic adjustment among Asian American adolescents. Study 1 examined the influence of cross-race friendships (derived from quantity and quality measures) on trajectories of perception of peer prejudice at school. Results showed that cross-race friendships were associated with weaker perception of peer prejudice. Cross-race friendships measured as quantity had an immediate but short effect, while cross-race friendships measured as quality exerted a delayed but long-term influence over how Asian American adolescents perceive peer prejudice at school. Similar findings were observed for friendships with other non-White groups (but not with the White group and not for cross-ethnic friendships). Study 2 explored the directionality in associations between cross-race best friendships (i.e., the proportion of cross-race friends in one’s best female and male friend network) and psychological well-being and academic adjustment (school attachment and GPA). Results identified an overall linear decline in cross-race best friendships with age among Asian American adolescents. Cross-race best friendships positively influenced later self-esteem, but not the other way around. Higher levels of school attachment predicted greater decrease in cross-race best friendships, and declines in cross-race best friendships were accompanied by decreases in GPA for Asian American adolescents.