College students' attitudes toward interracial relationships: Variations by student race and campus type

Abstract

Objectives: In this study, variability in college students’ attitudes toward interracial dating and marriage relationships as a function of student race and campus type (predominantly White vs. ethno-racially diverse) was examined. Methods: Undergraduate students ages 18-24 were recruited from a large public multicampus university in the Northeast. Using an online survey, students (N = 231) provided demographic information (e.g., gender, age, family income) and reported on their interracial relationship history and attitudes toward dating and marriage relationships. Results: Analyses of variance revealed significant differences in students’ attitudes toward interracial dating and marriage depending on students’ race and the type of campus they attended. White students enrolled at ethno-racially diverse urban campuses reported significantly lower approval of interracial dating and marriage relationships than their White peers at the predominantly White main campus and their peers of color at the predominantly White campus and the ethno-racially diverse regional campuses. Conclusions: The findings highlight the role that the particular geographical-cultural profile of campuses plays in college students’ attitudes toward interracial relationships when considered in tandem with students’ racial background.