Have some confidence in contact: Self-efficacy beliefs among children moderate the associations between cross-group friendships and outgroup attitudes

Bagci S., TÜRNÜKLÜ A., Tercan M., Cameron L., Turner R.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, no.2, pp.101-111, 2023 (SSCI) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/jasp.12929
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, IBZ Online, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Periodicals Index Online, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, Communication Abstracts, Gender Studies Database, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index
  • Page Numbers: pp.101-111
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

We investigated how and when individuals transform existing cross-group interactions into more positive attitudes towards outgroups. Specifically focusing on the context of Syrian immigration to Turkey, we examined whether native children's cross-group friendship self-efficacy beliefs-the perception of their abilities about building successful cross-group interactions-moderated the direct and indirect associations between cross-group friendship quantity (measured by the number of Syrian friends), cross-group friendship positivity and negativity, and attitudinal outcomes (outgroup attitudes, intergroup anxiety, and social distance). Analyses of correlational data (5th graders, N = 746) demonstrated that direct and indirect (through cross-group friendship positivity) associations between cross-group friendship quantity and positive intergroup outcomes were stronger among children who held greater self-efficacy beliefs. Importantly, quantity of such friendships was related to more negative intergroup outcomes through negative contact experiences among children who reported lower self-efficacy beliefs. Theoretical implications of the findings and possible interventions targeting self-efficacy beliefs in intergroup contact strategies were discussed.