The Moderating Role of Discrimination in the Association between Same-Race/Ethnicity Friends and Negative Ethnic-Racial Identity Affect over Time.

The article examines how perceived ethnic-racial discrimination moderates the relationship between having same-race/ethnicity friends and negative ethnic-racial identity (ERI) affect among Asian, Black, and Latinx college students of color aged 18–25. Using longitudinal self-report data collected at the beginning and end of a semester, the study found that having same-race/ethnicity friends predicted a decrease in negative ERI affect over time only when experiences of discrimination were low; high discrimination disrupted this positive association. These findings highlight discrimination as a risk factor that interferes with the protective role of same-race/ethnicity friendships in reducing negative feelings about one’s ethnic-racial group, suggesting implications for supportive interventions in college settings. Limitations include the use of single-item measures for key constructs, a modest sample size, and a focus on only three ethnic-racial groups, indicating the need for further research across diverse populations and longer time frames.