Direct and indirect intergroup contact are related to American children's attitudes about immigrant groups

IF 2.1 2区心理学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL

Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology Pub Date : 2025-07-28 DOI:10.1016/j.appdev.2025.101841

Laura Elenbaas , Kelly Lynn Mulvey , Christia Spears Brown , Jane Singman , Megan N. Norris

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

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.

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直接和间接的族群间接触与美国儿童对移民群体的态度有关

本研究运用族群间接触理论，探讨与移民直接或间接族群间接触与自我认同的美国儿童(年龄：8 ~ 12岁；N = 379, 53%的女孩，51%的白人)对移民同伴的态度和预期行为，首次评估间接接触在此背景下的作用。经历过更多积极间接接触（例如，无意中听到的对话使移民看起来很好）的孩子更喜欢移民，感觉更接近这个感知到的外群体，并且有更强的联系意愿（例如，玩耍）。与来自墨西哥、中国或埃及的移民间接接触的结果是一致的，并且出现在直接接触（例如同学）的积极影响之上。儿童间接接触的本质很重要：积极接触可能会使美国儿童更容易接受并接纳移民同伴，在这个日益多样化的国家，这种行为对两个群体的福祉都越来越重要。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL-

CiteScore

5.10

自引率

3.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： The Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology focuses on two key concepts: human development, which refers to the psychological transformations and modifications that occur during the life cycle and influence an individual behavior within the social milieu; and application of knowledge, which is derived from investigating variables in the developmental process. Its contributions cover research that deals with traditional life span markets (age, social roles, biological status, environmental variables) and broadens the scopes of study to include variables that promote understanding of psychological processes and their onset and development within the life span. Most importantly.