This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Tucker, M. B. Articles by Mitchell-Kernan, C. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Social Structural and Psychological Correlates of Interethnic Dating

University of California, Los Angeles, mbtucker{at}ucla.edu

Claudia Mitchell-Kernan

University of California, Los Angeles

This study is designed to: (a) describe current interethnic dating behavior and related attitudes among southern Californians; and (b) examine social structural and psychological correlates of interethnic dating. Data were derived from a telephone survey conducted with a probability sample of African American, Latino and white residents of southern California. lnterethnic dating was reported by over half of all ethnic groups and both sexes and more frequently among men. Most reported that family members knew of their behavior and few families objected, although white women were most likely to report family criticism. Whites and Latinos who admitted to exclusions for intermarriage were most likely to exclude blacks, and black women and Latinas were most likely to exclude Asians. Logistic regression analyses indicated that interethnic dating was associated with being male, younger, having more education, being less lonely, the perception of having more mating opportunities and being African American or Latino rather than white. Within ethnic group analyses demonstrated that the loneliness finding was specific to African American women and Latino males, suggesting that dating outside of one's ethnic group was perhaps an adaptive behavior for these groups. It appears that one's particular location in the social structure as a function of age, education, sex and ethnic group may facilitate or discourage interethnic dating. Furthermore, mate availability considerations contribute to such decisions.

Key Words: dating • interethnic • social psychology

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 12, No. 3, 341-361 (1995)
DOI: 10.1177/0265407595123002


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Levin, P. L. Taylor, and E. Caudle Interethnic and interracial dating in college: A longitudinal study Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, June 1, 2007; 24(3): 323 - 341. [Abstract] [PDF]

				V. C. Phua and G. Kaufman The Crossroads of Race and Sexuality: Date Selection among Men in Internet "Personal" Ads Journal of Family Issues, November 1, 2003; 24(8): 981 - 994. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. D. James and M. B. Tucker Racial Ambiguity and Relationship Formation in the United States: Theoretical and Practical Considerations Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, April 1, 2003; 20(2): 153 - 169. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. A. Zebroski Black-White Intermarriages: The Racial and Gender Dynamics of Support and Oppositiond Journal of Black Studies, September 1, 1999; 30(1): 123 - 132. [PDF]

				S. O. Gaines Jr, C. S. Granrose, D. I. Rios, B. F. Garcia, M. S. P. Youn, K. R. Farris, and K. L. Bledsoe Patterns of Attachment and Responses to Accommodative Dilemmas among Interethnic/Interracial Couples Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, April 1, 1999; 16(2): 275 - 285. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. D. Garcia and S. M. Rivera Perceptions of Hispanic and African-American Couples at the Friendship or Engagement Stage of a Relationship Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, February 1, 1999; 16(1): 65 - 86. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. C. Fujino The Rates, Patterns and Reasons for Forming Heterosexual Interracial Dating Relationships among Asian Americans Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, December 1, 1997; 14(6): 809 - 828. [Abstract]