Research Seminar with Régine Débrosse - Onward Connections: The Relationships of Young People of Colour

People of color cope with racial stigma daily. In this context, support and acceptance from people who share similar racial/ethnic backgrounds can take a special importance. Yet, research has largely overlooked the same-race interpersonal experiences of people of color, as well as the unique benefits they could be associated with. In two studies, using a national sample (n = 1618) and a term-long weekly-diary design (n = 103), young Black, Latine, and Asian people received more support and acceptance from close same-race (vs. interracial) relationships. Black and Latine youths also reported greater support overall, regardless of relationship type. Furthermore, greater support and acceptance in same-race relationships predicted greater flourishing and lower depressive affect, even after controlling for support and acceptance in interracial relationships. These results underscore the importance of same-race relationships for young people of color. Revisiting this data, additional analyses explore two core mechanisms that could possibly explain how and why same-race relationships are more likely to bring unique benefits, as well as when interracial relationships can bring similar benefits.