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Group identity and peer relations: A longitudinal study of group identity, perceived peer acceptance and friendships amongst ethnic minority English children

Rutland, Adam, Cameron, Lindsey, Jugert, Philipp, Nigbur, Dennis, Brown, Rupert, Watters, Charles, Hossain, Rosa, Landau, Anick, Le Touze, Dominique (2012) Group identity and peer relations: A longitudinal study of group identity, perceived peer acceptance and friendships amongst ethnic minority English children. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 30 (2). pp. 283-302. ISSN 0261-510X. (doi:10.1111/j.2044-835X.2011.02040.x) (KAR id:28388)

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Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-835X.2011.02040.x

Abstract

This research examined whether peer relationships amongst ethnic minority status children reflect the social groups to which children belong and the degree to which they identify with these groups. A longitudinal study was conducted to investigate the influence of group identities (i.e. ethnic and national) on children’s perceived peer acceptance and preference for same-ethnic friendships. Measures of ethnic and English identification, perceived peer acceptance and friendship choice were administered to 207 south-Asian English children, aged between 5-11 years, at two time points six months apart. In line with predictions, longitudinal analysis showed that bicultural identification (i.e. higher ethnic and English identity) was related to higher perceived peer acceptance and less preference for same-ethnic friendships. Importantly, as hypothesized, this finding was limited to the older children with more advanced social-cognitive abilities. The results suggest that older children who adopted a bicultural identity were able to strategically ‘flag’ their multiple group identities, within their multicultural peer groups, to obtain acceptance amongst the maximum number of peers and show less preference for same-ethnic friendships. This study extends previous peer relations research, which have typically focused on individual social deficits or classroom norms, by showing group identities influence peer relationships amongst ethnic minority status children.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/j.2044-835X.2011.02040.x
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Funders: Economic and Social Research Council (https://ror.org/03n0ht308)
Depositing User: Lindsey Cameron
Date Deposited: 11 Nov 2011 09:30 UTC
Last Modified: 12 Jul 2022 10:40 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/28388 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Rutland, Adam.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Cameron, Lindsey.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1388-1970
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