Stigma consciousness among Asian Americans: Impact of positive stereotypes in interracial roommate relationships

Deborah Son, J. Nicole Shelton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present research examined the intrapersonal consequences that Asian Americans experience as a result of their concerns about appearing highly intelligent, a positive stereotype associated with their racial group. A daily diary study of Asian-American college students (N = 47) revealed that higher levels of stigma consciousness were associated with greater anxiety, contact avoidance, perceived need to change to fit in with a roommate, and concerns about being viewed as intelligent for Asian Americans living with a European-American (vs. racial minority) roommate. Further, among Asian Americans with a European-American roommate, concerns about appearing intelligent partially mediated the relationships between stigma consciousness and the outcomes of anxiety and perceived need to change to fit in. In sum, these findings demonstrate that positive stereotypes about the group - not just negative stereotypes - may lead to undesirable intrapersonal outcomes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)51-60
Number of pages10
JournalAsian American Journal of Psychology
Volume2
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Psychology

Keywords

  • Asian Americans
  • interracial
  • roommates
  • stereotypes
  • stigma consciousness

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