Date of Award
2014
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
Abstract
There are particular assumptions regarding the racial identity and unique challenges of multiracial individuals of mixed African-American and European-American descent that have arisen based on historical trends. For example, it is assumed that multiracial individuals have been expected to identify as monoracial African-Americans as a result of legal and social constructions. In addition, theoretical literature suggests that this group of individuals have faced challenges in their racial identity development, struggling with various possible racial identities. Racial identity development and self-concept formation begins in childhood and is greatly impacted by the attitudes of adults. The present study examined racial differences in college students' attitudes toward multiracial children. In addition, this study looked at these attitudes as compared to college students' attitudes toward monoracial children. For the purpose of the current study, multiracial is defined as having parents from two differing monoracial groups. The sample included 275 undergraduate students (185 White/European-American and 90 Black/African-American). Participants were assigned one of three vignettes in which the race of the child was manipulated, and subsequently completed the Attitudes toward Multiracial Children Scale (AMCS), or modified version of this scale, and Social Distance Scale (SDS) based on the child in the vignette. In addition, participants completed the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale and a demographics survey. Based on the theoretical assumptions regarding multiracial individuals, it was hypothesized that Black/African-Americans would rate multiracial children higher on scales of Self-Esteem and Psychosocial Adjustment, as compared to White/European-Americans. However, on Multiracial Heritage and Multiracial Identity subscales, it was expected that there would be no differences between the two racial groups. In addition, it was predicted that on the SDS, Black/African-Americans would have more negative ratings of multiracial children compared to African-American children, and White/European-Americans would have more negative ratings of multiracial children compared to European-American children. Results of this study indicated that the Black/African-American and White/European-American college students had similar attitudes toward the multiracial child. In addition, the monoracial participants' ratings of multiracial children did not differ significantly from their ratings of monoracial children of their same race or another race. Interestingly, White/European-Americans had ratings reflecting more positive views of multiracial heritage when the multiracial child's father was African-American and mother was European-American. Results of this study support a progression toward similar racial attitudes of Black/African-American and White/European-American young adults toward multiracial children and provide some insight into the current state of racial attitudes. In addition, this study highlights potential problems with current available measures of racial attitudes, particularly toward multiracial population.
Recommended Citation
Monahan, Kerry A., "Racial Differences In Attitudes Toward Multiracial Children" (2014). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1438.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/1438