Research article summary (published 29 Sep 2006):

Fitting in matters: markers of in-group belonging and academic outcomes.

Full Abstract

Minority boys are at risk of academic disengagement. Prior research documents that an aspect of racial-ethnic identity, in-group connection, can buffer against this risk, but that in-group connection is undermined in high-risk neighborhoods. We examined another way that boys may feel connected to the in-group, by looking like in-group members. We hypothesize that physical markers of in-group membership can serve to improve boys' sense of belongingness, thereby facilitating their engagement in school. We tested our model with low-income, high-risk African American (Study 1, n= 102) and Latino (Study 2, n= 66) teens. Hierarchical regression supported our model; dark skin tone was a protective factor (and light skin tone a risk factor) for African American boys, and feeling that one looks Latino was a protective factor (and feeling that one does not look Latino a risk factor) for Latino boys' grades, in-class behavior, and school engagement. Mediational analyses suggest that markers of belongingness have their impact via peer-group choice.

Learn Faster Today      Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Oyserman, Daphna (D); Brickman, Daniel (D); Bybee, Deborah (D); Celious, Aaron (A);

Affiliation: Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1248, USA. daphna.oyserman(-atsign-)umich.edu

Grants: MH57495 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R01 MH57495 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R01 MH58299 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; T32 MH63057-03 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Psychological science : a journal of the American Psychological Society / APS (Psychol Sci), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Oct; vol 17 (issue 10) : pp 854-61

Dates: Created 2006/11/14; Completed 2007/02/12; Revised 2007/12/03;

PMID: 17100785, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent African Continental Ancestry Group - psychology Choice Behavior Educational Status Hispanic Americans - psychology Humans Male Michigan Peer Group

Peer Group Poverty - psychology Psychosocial Deprivation Risk Factors Self Efficacy Skin Pigmentation Social Conformity Social Identification Urban Population

Related articles

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

• The development of argument skills. 30 Aug 2003
• Child maltreatment and violent delinquency: disentangling main effects and subgroup effects. 30 Jul 2007
• The protective role of ethnic and racial identity and aspects of an Africentric orientation against drug use among African American young adults. 30 Aug 2005
• Suicidal ideation among urban nine and ten year olds. 30 Jan 2006
• Suicidal ideation in prepubertal children: what does it mean? What to do? 30 Jan 2006
• Predictors of rebellious behavior in childhood parental drug use, peers, school environment, and child personality. 30 Dec 2005
• Effortful control among low-income preschoolers in three cities: Stability, change, and individual differences. 30 Dec 2006
• Ethnic pride and self-control related to protective and risk factors: test of the theoretical model for the strong African American families program. 30 Dec 2006
• Adolescents' psychological response to the experience of community interpersonal violence: a cross-national and a cross-cultural comparison. 30 Dec 2005
• Low income parents' reports of communication problems with health care providers: effects of language and insurance. 27 Feb 2007

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.