Perceived Ethnic-Racial Socialization, Ethnic Identity, and Social Competence Among Asian American Late Adolescents

• Published in: Cultural diversity & ethnic minority psychology 2010-04, Vol.16 (2), p.169-178
• Main Authors: Tran, Alisia G. T.T, Lee, Richard M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Asian Americans; Asian Americans - statistics & numerical data; Asians; Attitude; Continental Population Groups; Ethnic Groups; Ethnic Identity; Female; Human; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Race Relations; Racial and Ethnic Relations; Racism; Social Behavior; Social Competence; Social Identification; Social Perception; Social Skills; Socialization; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1099-9809; 1939-0106
• DOI: 10.1037/a0016400

This study extends the research on parental ethnic-racial socialization to Asian American late adolescents ( N = 166). The authors specifically examined the factor structure, frequency, and correlates of a perceived ethnic-racial socialization measure. Ethnic identity was also hypothesized to function as a mediator in the relationship between perceived cultural socialization and social competence. The results supported a 3-factor model of perceived ethnic-racial socialization that included cultural socialization-pluralism, promotion of mistrust, and preparation for bias. Exploratory analyses revealed that ethnic-racial socialization messages were reported by large proportions of participants and were related to a number of demographic variables. The authors further found that perceived promotion of mistrust messages were inversely associated with social competence. They also found that perceived cultural socialization-pluralism was significantly related to social competence through ethnic identity. Results support the importance of perceived ethnic-racial socialization for Asian American development.