Plummer Deborah L, Stone Rosalie Torres, Powell Lauren, Allison Jeroan
Psychiatry Department, University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Quantitative Health Sciences Department, University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2016 Oct;22(4):479-494. doi: 10.1037/cdp0000079. Epub 2016 Apr 14.
This study examined patterns, characteristics, and predictors of cross-racial friendships as the context for understanding contemporary race relations.
A national survey included 1,055 respondents, of whom 55% were white, 32% were black, and 74% were female; ages ranged from 18 to ≥65 years. Focus groups were conducted to assess societal and personal benefits. Participants (n = 31) were racially diverse and aged 20 to 66 years.
After accounting for multiple covariates, regression analysis revealed that Asians, Hispanics, and multiracial individuals are more likely than their white and black counterparts to have cross-racial friends. Females were less likely than males to have 8 or more cross-racial friends. Regression analysis revealed that the depth of cross-racial friendships was greater for women than men and for those who shared more life experiences. Increasing age was associated with lower cross-racial friendship depth. Qualitative analysis of open-ended questions and focus group data established the social context as directly relevant to the number and depth of friendships. Despite the level of depth in cross-racial friendships, respondents described a general reluctance to discuss any racially charged societal events, such as police shootings of unarmed black men.
This study identified salient characteristics of individuals associated with cross-racial friendships and highlighted the influence of the social, historical, and political context in shaping such friendships. Our findings suggest that contemporary race relations reflect progress as well as polarization. (PsycINFO Database Record
本研究考察跨种族友谊的模式、特征及预测因素，以此作为理解当代种族关系的背景。
一项全国性调查涵盖1055名受访者，其中55%为白人，32%为黑人，74%为女性；年龄范围在18岁至65岁及以上。开展焦点小组讨论以评估社会和个人层面的益处。参与者（n = 31）种族多样，年龄在20岁至66岁之间。
在考虑多个协变量后，回归分析显示，亚裔、西班牙裔和多种族个体比白人和黑人更有可能拥有跨种族朋友。女性拥有8个或更多跨种族朋友的可能性低于男性。回归分析表明，跨种族友谊的深度对女性而言大于男性，对那些有更多共同生活经历的人来说也更深。年龄增长与跨种族友谊深度降低相关。对开放式问题和焦点小组数据的定性分析确定社会背景与友谊的数量和深度直接相关。尽管跨种族友谊有一定深度，但受访者表示普遍不愿讨论任何带有种族色彩的社会事件，比如警察枪杀 unarmed黑人男性的事件。
本研究确定了与跨种族友谊相关的个体显著特征，并强调了社会、历史和政治背景对塑造此类友谊的影响。我们的研究结果表明，当代种族关系既反映了进步也体现了两极分化。（《心理学文摘数据库记录》
