Adolescent perceptions of the ethnic composition of their friendship group and school

Diverse schools can provide opportunities for adolescents to interact with peers from diverse backgrounds. However, these opportunities do not automatically guarantee that adolescents will realize the benefits of diversity, particularly if they don't lead to meaningful relationships like friendships. The current study thus examined school interethnic climate as a factor that may promote friendship group inclusivity. With more than 500 tenth grade participants from three diverse high schools, we found that students perceived their friendship groups to be less diverse, with a higher percentage of same-ethnicity peers, than their school. However, positive school interethnic climate was indirectly associated with greater friendship inclusivity (i.e., a more diverse friendship group, with fewer same-ethnic peers, controlling for school ethnic composition), through an increased openness to friends perceived as different. These results can help inform the design and assessment of school-based practices aimed at optimizing the benefits provided by school diversity.