Monoracial Groups Research Articles

Family-based and external discrimination experienced by multiracial individuals: Links to internalizing symptoms and familial support.

Multiracial individuals are exposed to many forms of interpersonal racial discrimination, including general discrimination against their monoracial groups and discrimination against being multiracial. Because their families include members of different racial groups, multiracial people may also be exposed to various forms of discrimination from within the family. In the present study, we leverage recent advances in latent profile analysis to identify distinct patterns of family-based and external (i.e., from outside the family unit) discrimination experienced by multiracial college students, the differential impacts of these discrimination patterns on depressive and anxiety symptoms, and whether parental support of participants' multiracial experiences and identity impacts their exposure to different forms of discrimination. In a sample of 635 diverse multiracial college students (Mage = 21.2, SD = 5.3, range = 18-57, 74.0% female) from three U.S. universities, we identified three distinct discrimination profiles: High External and Familial Discrimination (43.2%), Average External Low Familial Discrimination (32.1%), and Low External and Familial Discrimination (24.7%). Profiles differed in depressive and anxiety symptomatology, with those in the High External and Familial Discrimination profile displaying the worst outcomes. Parental support of multiracial experiences was associated with lower levels of family-based discrimination. The complex relations between parental support, family-based discrimination, and multiracial participants' internalizing symptomology are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

1242-P: Obesity Disparities in a Multiracial Sample of Asian American and Pacific Islander (API) Adults

Background: Asians have higher diabetes rates than Non-Hispanic white (NHW) people, despite having lower BMI. Studies on Asians often present monoracial groups. We examined obesity rates among mono- and multiracial APIs. Methods: We examined obesity and other factors by self-reported race using case-control data from two integrated healthcare systems with large API populations. Results: Obesity varied by race, ranging from 8.5% (Chinese) to 53.5% (Other Pacific Islander) (Table 1). Obesity was high for multiracial API. Demographic, behavioral, and clinical factors explained some, but not all the differences in obesity rates (Table 2). Conclusion: Multiracial API people had higher obesity rates than monoracial API and NHW people. Robust data on multiracial people are needed to understand health disparities among this group. Disclosure A.M.Bacong: None. S.L.Gibbs: None. T.B.Frankland: Research Support; Pfizer Inc., Stock/Shareholder; AbbVie Inc., Pfizer Inc., CVS Health Corp, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. J.Li: None. Y.G.Daida: Research Support; GlaxoSmithKline plc. S.P.Fortmann: Research Support; Pfizer Inc. L.Palaniappan: None. Funding National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL126172)

Love is Not Colorblind: An Investigation of the Racial Hierarchy of Mate Preferences

Not my type is the usual invocation when rejecting potential lovers who don’t align with the racial hierarchy of mating preferences. The largely unchallenged norm of interracial intimacy aversion, particularly how the desire for some racial groups and rejection of others reinforces existing racial inequities, is inconsistent with the blanket notion of greater interracial acceptance. Our investigation assessed the openness of monoracial and multiracial individuals to form interracial romantic relationships. We partially replicated an interracial mate preference known as the Multiracial Dividend Effect, finding that most monoracial groups equally preferred same-race lovers and interracially dating multiracials, and they preferred interracially dating someone multiracial over any monoracial group, whereas Multiracials were more open to interracially dating any monoracial group than monoracials were to interracially date each other. In addition, Hispanic-White and East Asian-White multiracials were more open to interracially dating White individuals than their respective monoracial in-group members, and East Asian-White multiracials were more open to interracially dating all monoracial minority groups than monoracial East Asian participants. Finally, half-White multiracials are more likely to be in partial-racial couples (e.g., former President of the United States Barack Obama is Black-White multiracial and the former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, is Black) whereas interminority multiracials are more likely to be in 100% interracial/non-overlapping couples (e.g., Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris is interminority Tamil Indian and Black whereas the Second Gentleman of the United States, Doug Emhoff, is White).

Educational Trajectories and Outcomes of Multiracial College Students

Although higher education research has identified racial/ethnic disparities in college enrollment and degree completion, few studies investigate the educational outcomes of multiracial students relative to monoracial student groups. This paper begins to fill this gap and aims to open a conversation about the precarious state of data collection and empirical research on the growing multiracial population. Using several waves from the Educational Longitudinal Study (ELS) and the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), we center multiracial college students in our empirical analysis, which investigates the following questions: (1) how do enrollment rates and patterns of enrollment based on institutional type differ, if at all, for multiracial college students relative to monoracial college students? and (2) how does retention and overall degree attainment differ between multiracial and monoracial groups of college students? Our analyses identify several trends that suggest that multiracial people enroll in college at significantly lower rates, are more likely to enroll in private colleges and universities and four-year institutions, and are less likely to earn bachelor’s degrees relative to other racial groups.

Racial Identity, Group Consciousness, and Attitudes: A Framework for Assessing Multiracial Self‐Classification

AbstractMultiracial self‐classifiers are the fastest‐growing racial population in the United States. While their rise signals a departure from norms of hypodescent, little is known about the sociopolitical meanings attached to multiracial labels. Here, we develop a theoretical framework for understanding multiracials’ sense of racial group identity, linked fate, and racial attitudes. Examining a national opinion survey that samples more than 1200 multiracial adults, we compare the identity and attitudinal profiles of the two largest multiracial groups in the United States—White‐Asians and White‐Blacks—with those of their component monoracial groups. We find that while White‐Asians and White‐Blacks often distinguish themselves from their component races, on balance, the assertion of dual racial membership signals greater solidarity and/or affect toward the minority race. These findings suggest that members of these multiracial populations are likely to align themselves relatively more with their minority background than with Whites on political issues that are racial in nature.

Eating disorder prevalence among multiracial US undergraduate and graduate students: Is multiracial risk different than the sum of each identity?

The number of individuals identifying as multiracial in the United States (US) has significantly increased in the past few decades, yet they are rarely the focus of study in eating disorders (ED) research. The current study is among the first to examine prevalence estimates of ED pathology across several distinct multiracial groups, to contrast prevalence estimates of ED pathology in each multiracial group with those among the corresponding monoracial identities, and to investigate these findings intersectionally with gender identity. Data from 145,379 US students, 11,433 of whom were multiracial, were collected from 199 US colleges and universities participating in the Healthy Minds Study between 2014 and 2019. Elevated ED pathology was defined as a score ≥ 2 on the SCOFF. Multiracial individuals identifying as American Indian/Alaskan Native and Hispanic/Latinx exhibited the highest prevalence estimates of elevated ED pathology (41.4% compared to 23.5% in the full sample). This group, as well as some other doubly marginalized groups (African American/Black and Hispanic/Latinx; African American/Black and Asian American/Asian), exhibited higher prevalence of elevated ED pathology than expected based on the observed prevalence estimates in their corresponding monoracial groups. Across gender identities, greater than expected prevalence estimates of elevated ED pathology were observed among multiracial individuals identifying as African American/Black and White and lower than expected prevalence estimates were observed among multiracial individuals identifying as Middle Eastern/Arab/Arab American and White. These results have important implications for understanding ED pathology in multiracial individuals and should inform intervention and treatment efforts to support individuals from these underserved groups.

Measuring Segregation in a Multiracial Era: The Impact of Federal Racial Reporting Changes on Estimates of Public School Segregation

Background Despite accounting for 3% of the student population, multiracial students are the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States. Aligning with new federal guidelines, in 2008, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) revised its single-race reporting scheme for the Common Core of Data (CCD), permitting students to identify as two or more races (i.e., multiracial). Study Objective The addition of a multiracial reporting category to the NCES CCD permits students to more accurately represent their racial identity. By creating categories that are not strictly comparable to their historical counterparts, however, it may problematize longitudinal analysis of trends in the racial composition and segregation of schools, which are of perennial scholarly and public interest. In this study, we examine the extent to which the reporting change affects estimates of segregation over time. Research Design We compute annual values of racial/ethnic segregation (i.e., isolation and dissimilarity) among elementary schools for 5,357 public school districts using data from the NCES CCD Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey from 2000–01 to 2013–14. Before 2008, we compute segregation for the five monoracial groups tracked by the CCD. After 2008, we compute segregation using the two analytical approaches to the treatment of multiracial students that have been employed by scholars of segregation. We estimate the effect of the racial/ethnic reporting change on estimates of segregation via a series of multilevel longitudinal fixed-effects models. Results We found that the NCES CCD's addition of a multiracial reporting category has problematized longitudinal analyses of segregation, particularly racial/ethnic isolation. Models revealed abrupt changes in most dimensions of segregation in the year immediately following the reporting change. Moreover, the reporting change has complicated interpretation of segregation trends since 2008, because seemingly minor analytical decisions may lead to contradictory conclusions: When multiracial students are excluded from calculations, isolation appears to be increasing for all racial/ethnic groups; however, when multiracial students are included in calculations, isolation appears to be decreasing for all racial/ethnic groups. The reporting change has a weaker, but still significant, effect on certain dimensions of racial/ethnic dissimilarity. Conclusions In this study, we found that the NCES CCD's recent addition of a multiracial reporting category has resulted in estimates of segregation that are not longitudinally comparable and may vary in magnitude and direction depending on relatively minor analytical decisions. We urge scholars to take particular care in calculating and interpreting segregation trends and offer recommendations for educational research and practice.

Third Space: The Need for Multiracial College Student Groups at University Counseling Centers

ABSTRACT Multiracial individuals have been simultaneously oppressed and neglected in U.S. society. Although the population of Multiracially-identifying individuals in the United States continues to grow, the predominant counseling literature continues to focus primarily on monoracial identity groups. This has significant implications for Multiracial individuals as they negotiate their space in society. Multiracial college students on predominately monoracial campuses are a particularly vulnerable group that can benefit from support in developing a positive racial identity. This paper offers a review of extant literature on the Multiracial experience in the United States and proposes the utility of Multiracial groups as a university counseling service for Multiracial college student identity development and support.

Alcohol trajectories among biracial black subgroups: Testing the intermediate substance use hypothesis

ObjectiveThis study tests the intermediate biracial substance use hypothesis, which suggests that the prevalence of substance use among biracial individuals fall intermediate to their corresponding mononoracial counterparts. Using National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health (Add Health) data, we examine alcohol-use trajectories of a de-aggregated sample of biracial Black youth and compare them with the trajectories of the corresponding monoracial counterparts. MethodThe sample consists of 9421 adolescents and young adults who self-identified as 1 of 4 monoracial groups (i.e., Black, White, Hispanic, American Indian) or 1 of 3 biracial Black groups (i.e., Black-American Indian, Black-Hispanic, and Black-White). Study hypotheses are tested using latent growth curve modeling for first use, number of drinks, and binge drinking. ResultsWe found partial support for the intermediate substance use hypothesis, with the alcohol use rates of biracial Blacks more closely resembling the non-Black corresponding group than the monoracial Black group. Black-American Indians face particularly high risk of problematic drinking. ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate the need for additional research clarifying the onset and maintenance of alcohol use and misuse among biracial individuals and subgroups.

The missing link in contemporary health disparities research: a profile of the mental and self-rated health of multiracial young adults

ABSTRACTThis study compared the mental and self-rated health of monoracial and multiracial young adults using data from Wave 3 of the National Longitudinal Adolescent to Adult study. Our analytic sample consisted of 10,535 men and women ages 18–25 that self-identified as monoracial (Asian, Black, Native American, and White) or multiracial (White-Nonwhite and Nonwhite-Nonwhite). We find that when comparing aggregated racial groups, multiracials have poorer mental health than monoracials. However, differences emerge when multiracials are disaggregated into their two primary pairings of White-Nonwhite and Nonwhite-Nonwhite and compared to monoracials collectively and individually. We find that White-Nonwhites have poorer mental and self-rated health relative to monoracials generally and Whites specifically. In contrast, Nonwhite-Nonwhites have greater self-esteem and self-rated health than Whites as well as the aggregated monoracial group. Our findings highlight the complexities of examining multiracial health without researchers using consistent multiracial categories and reference groups. The results are discussed using three new perspectives that are introduced to explain health disparities between monoracial and multiracial persons.

Cigarette-smoking trajectories of monoracial and biracial Blacks: Testing the intermediate hypothesis.

Research on the cigarette-smoking patterns of biracial adolescents and young adults is severely limited. In this study, we tested the intermediate biracial substance-use hypothesis, which suggests that the prevalence of substance use among biracial individuals falls intermediate to their monoracial counterparts. We examined cigarette-smoking trajectories of a de-aggregated sample of biracial Black adolescents and young adults. We used longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health (Add Health; Harris et al., 2009). Our sample (N = 9,421) included 4 monoracial groups (Black, White, Hispanic, and American Indian [AI]) and 3 biracial groups (Black-AI, Black-Hispanic, and Black-White). Study hypotheses were tested using latent growth-curve modeling. We found some support for the intermediate biracial substance-use hypothesis for 2 of 3 biracial groups (Black-American Indian, Black-Hispanic) and 2 of 4 cigarette-use outcomes (lifetime cigarette use, number of cigarettes smoked during past month for regular smokers). The cigarette-use trajectories of biracial Blacks were significantly different from only 1 corresponding monoracial group. Black-AIs and Black Hispanics engage in lifetime cigarette use at comparable rates to monoracial Blacks. Black-Hispanic regular smokers' rate of cigarette smoking is comparable to the higher rates of Hispanics and not to the lower rates of Blacks. Knowledge of the origins, developmental course, and consequences of tobacco use among the biracial population may lead to effective intervention programs and policies for this group. (PsycINFO Database Record

Shifting racial hierarchies: An analysis of residential segregation among multi-racial and mono-racial groups in the United States

Multi-racial (mixed-race) people constitute a growing percentage of the United States (US) population. The study reported in this paper used residential segregation measures as a proxy for social distance, to examine whether segregation levels of multi-racial groups differ from those of mono-racial groups in the US in 2010. First, we find that all multi-racial groups considered in the study experience lower levels of segregation at county level than their mono-racial counterparts. However, black-whites and Hispanic-whites experience higher levels of segregation than other multi-racial groups. Second, we find region and minority composition of counties are associated significantly with segregation levels for multi-racial groups, but relative income is not.

Prevalence and correlates of substance use in Black, White, and biracial Black-White adolescents: Evidence for a biracial intermediate phenomena.

Most substance-use prevention interventions are based on the implicit assumption that risk and protective factors for substance use are the same for biracial and monoracial youth. However, preliminary research suggests this assumption may be untrue. This study compared the prevalence and correlates of substance use among Black, White, and biracial Black-White youth. Data were derived from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health, which is a longitudinal investigation using stratified random sampling to study health behaviors. After controlling for sociodemographic factors and using weighted Poisson and logistic regression, the authors found the substance-use prevalence rates of Black-White youth to be intermediate to the higher rates of Whites and lower rates of Blacks. In addition, Black-White youth's scores on most covariates were intermediate to those of the monoracial groups. Family factors were more important in explaining higher substance use than other contextual factors. School factors seem to be important in explaining lower substance use for Black-White youth. Correlates of substance use for Black-White youth were not identical to those of either Black or White youth. More research on the observed intermediate phenomena among biracial youth vis-à-vis prevalence, correlates, and causes of substance use is needed. (PsycINFO Database Record

Prevalence of High-Risk Sexual Behaviors Among Monoracial and Multiracial Groups from a National Sample: Are Multiracial Young Adults at Greater Risk?

The present study compared the prevalence and variation in high-risk sexual behaviors among four monoracial (i.e., White, African American, Asian, Native American) and four multiracial (i.e., White/African American, White/Asian, White/Native American, African American/Native American) young adults using Wave IV data (2008-2009) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 9724). Findings indicated differences in the sexual behavior of monoracial and multiracial young adults, but directions of differences varied depending on the monoracial group used as the referent and gender. Among males, White/African Americans had higher risk than Whites; White/Native Americans had higher risk than Native Americans. Otherwise, multiracial groups had lower risk or did not differ from the single-race groups. Among females, White/Native Americans had higher risk than Whites; White/African Americans had higher risk than African Americans. Other comparisons showed no differences or had lower risk among multiracial groups. Variations in high-risk sexual behaviors underscore the need for health research to disaggregate multiracial groups to better understand health behaviors and outcomes in the context of experiences associated with a multiracial background, and to improve prevention strategies.

Abstract C83: Health status and chronic conditions of biracial Asians in California 2001-2009

Abstract Intro: In 2000, 6.8 million individuals identified with two or more races. This number increased to over 9 million by 2010, representing a 30% increase within a span of 10 years. The rapid growth of racial and ethnic minority populations in the US will transform the cultural milieu and engender shifts in health, economic, social, and political landscapes. These shifts necessitate the examination of health profiles of these emerging populations to determine whether they experience disparate health behaviors or outcomes in comparison to their monoracial counterparts. The focus of the present study was to examine health outcomes and chronic conditions for the biracial Asian population in California. We hypothesized that the biracial population will display intermediate (or an “average” of) outcomes in comparison to their monoracial counterparts. Methods: This study utilized merged data from respondents (N = 238,897) to iterations of the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) administered in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, we ran multivariable regression models to predict health outcomes (i.e., diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, disability status, BMI, and general health) and to compare health outcomes among various racial and ethnic groups. Results: After adjusting for relevant covariates, multivariate results revealed that Whites reported better health overall than biracial Asians and other monoracial groups. For example, Whites were less likely to report having been diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, and physical disability, and had higher perceived general health than biracial Asians and other monoracial individuals. We also found that biracial Asians displayed BMI ranges that were intermediate between their monoracial constituents. Conclusions: BMI is a more proximal health outcome and is more sensitive to lifestyles and behaviors. As a result, BMI may be a better indicator that biracial Asians have indeed adopted health behaviors and practices that fall between their monoracial counterparts. Future epidemiological research should examine the prevalence of more proximal health outcomes among biracial Asians and assess how it differs by developmental age. Additional studies should also examine how health behaviors among biracial Asians change over time and are associated with chronic medical conditions. Citation Format: Anh B. Nguyen, Nancy Breen, Trenette T. Clark, Richard Moser. Health status and chronic conditions of biracial Asians in California 2001-2009. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Sixth AACR Conference: The Science of Cancer Health Disparities; Dec 6–9, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014;23(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C83. doi:10.1158/1538-7755.DISP13-C83

Posttraumatic Cognitions, Somatization, and PTSD severity among Asian American and White College Women with Sexual Trauma Histories.

The need for trauma research with monoracial groups such as Asian Americans (AA) has recently been emphasized to better understand trauma experiences and inform interventions across populations. Given AA cultural contexts, posttraumatic cognitions and somatization may be key in understanding trauma experiences for this group. AA and White American (WA) trauma-exposed college women completed a survey on sexual trauma history, posttraumatic cognitions, somatic symptoms, and PTSD severity. For the overall sample, higher negative cognitions were associated with higher somatization. Asian race was associated with higher negative cognitions, which then predicted higher PTSD. Unexpectedly, WAs more strongly endorsed somatization than AAs. These findings indicate that posttraumatic cognitions may be helpful in understanding relationships between somatization and PTSD severity among those of Asian backgrounds and that the relationship between somatization and PTSD symptoms is culturally complex.

Multiracial matters – disrupting and reinforcing the racial rubric in educational discourse

When studying matters of race and education, there seems to be an assumption that the inclusion of all monoracial populations equates to a comprehensive look at all students, particularly students of color. But what about students who identify with more than one race? How do Multiracial students identify and how are they included/excluded with respect to educational curricula, policies and climates? This growing group presents an immediate opportunity and challenge to the educational community, because while educational researchers appropriately and vigorously pay attention to matters of traditionally under-represented monoracial groups of color, it has yet to be seen where Multiracial students fall into this discourse. Based on a qualitative study of 25 Multiracially identified college students, I explore the ways in which the notion of Multiraciality muddies traditional conversations about race and education in an effort to better understand the potential impact of this ‘new’ demographic within an educational context.

Age of first cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use among U.S. biracial/ethnic youth: A population-based study

This study examines age of first cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use among self-identified biracial youth, using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). We found an intermediate biracial phenomenon in which some biracial youth initiate substance use at ages that fall between the initiation ages of their 2 corresponding monoracial groups. When controlling for the covariates, our findings show that White-Asian biracial youth begin smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol at earlier ages than Whites and engaging in all forms of substance use at earlier ages than Asian youth. Results indicate that White-American Indian youth start smoking cigarettes at earlier ages than all biracial and monoracial groups. Our findings underscore the need for future research to examine substance-use initiation and progression among biracial/ethnic youth.

School Racial Composition and Biracial Adolescents' School Attachment

Despite extensive research on multiracial youth in recent years, to date, no empirical studies have analyzed how racial context may affect biracial adolescents' sense of belonging in a social institution beyond families. In this study, we examine how the racial makeup of the student body affects self-identified biracial adolescents' school attachment. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we find that the proportions of white or black students in school significantly affect the school attachment of Hispanic/black, Asian/black, and American Indian/black biracial adolescents, but school racial composition in general has little influence on biracial adolescents with a partial-white identification (i.e., black/white, Hispanic/white, Asian/white, and American Indian/white). Our analyses also show that on average, students of most biracial groups display lower school attachment than their corresponding monoracial groups, but the differences from the monoracial groups with the lower school attachment are generally small. We discuss the implications of our findings for biracial adolescents' perceived racial boundaries and contemporary American race relations.

Multiracial Self-Identification and Adolescent Outcomes: A Social Psychological Approach to the Marginal Man Theory

Recent public health research has consistently reported that self-identified multiracial adolescents tend to display more problem behaviors and psychological difficulties than monoracial adolescents. Relying on insights from qualitative analyses using small or clinical samples to interpret these empirical patterns, these studies implicitly assume a pejorative stance toward adolescents' multiracial self-identification. Building on the social psychological arguments underlying Park's and Stonequist's seminal discussions of the “marginal man,” we derive hypotheses indicating that self-identified multiracial adolescents may show more psychological difficulties, but are also likely to have more active social interaction and participation than monoracial groups. We also incorporate later elaborations of the marginal man theory to develop alternative hypotheses regarding multiracial youth's school and behavioral outcomes. Based on a nationally representative sample of racially self-identified youth, the results suggest that patterns of multiracial-monoracial differences are generally consistent with the hypotheses derived closely from the marginal man theory or its subsequent elaborations. We examine the heterogeneities within these general patterns across different multiracial categories and discuss the implications of these findings.