2025/07/28 by Laura Elenbaas, Kelly Lynn Mulvey, Christia Spears Brown +2 · 1 voice
Social Sciences · Psychology · #Social and Intergroup Psychology #Racial and Ethnic Identity Research #Cultural Differences and Values
paper · doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2025.101841
This study drew on intergroup contact theory to investigate relations between both direct and indirect intergroup contact with immigrants and self-identified American children's (ages: 8 to 12 years; N = 379, 53 % girls, 51 % white) attitudes and intended behavior towards immigrant peers, assessing the role of indirect contact in this context for the first time. Children who experienced more positive indirect contact (e.g., overheard conversations that made immigrants seem nice) liked immigrants more, felt closer to this perceived outgroup, and had stronger intentions to affiliate (e.g., play). Findings were consistent for indirect contact with immigrants from Mexico, China, or Egypt, and emerged over and above the positive effects of direct contact (e.g., classmates). The nature of children's indirect contact matters: positive exposure may positively predispose American children to accept and include immigrant peers, a behavior of increasing importance for the wellbeing of both groups in this increasingly diverse country.