Citation
Shiao, Jiannbin Lee (2024). Beyond Homophily: The Boundary-Specific Effects of Interracial Contact.
Race and Social Problems.Abstract
Decades of research have confirmed and delimited the effects of interracial contact on racial attitudes. A shortcoming of this literature is its framing of interracial contact as a counterweight to homophily. Accordingly, researchers often measure interracial contact at the same-race/different-race boundary, such as in friendships and dating relationships. Rather than asking whether any interracial friendship leads to any interracial dating, I ask how much crossing a specific boundary actually leads to crossing other boundaries. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), I investigate the consequences of early interracial friendship for later interracial dating across six racial boundaries. The results show that interracial contact with a specific group increases the likelihood of interracial contact primarily with that same group and rarely with other groups. I conclude with implications for future research as well as social policy that relies on interracial contact.
URL
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-024-09411-3Keyword(s)
Interracial contact
Reference Type
Journal Article
Journal Title
Race and Social Problems
Author(s)
Shiao, Jiannbin Lee
Year Published
2024
Edition
February 05, 2024
ISSN/ISBN
1867-1756
DOI
10.1007/s12552-024-09411-3
Reference ID
10301
