A cross-cultural study of Italian and U.S. children’s perceptions of interethnic and interracial friendships in two urban schools

Abstract

This cross-cultural and cross-sectional study investigated Italian and US children’s perceptions of interethnic and interracial friendships, also known as intergroup friendships. A total sample of 226 children attending two urban, elementary schools in a middle-sized Northeastern US city and a middle-sized northern Italian city, were interviewed employing the questionnaire. Results indicate that Italian and US children’s perceptions of intra-racial and interracial friendships differed with students of color in the US rating intragroup friendships more positively than intergroup ones. In addition, students of color in Italy and white students in the US rated intergroup and intragroup friendships similarly.

Keywords

• children’s intergroup friendships
• intercultural education
• intergroup friendships
• multicultural education
• perceptions of intergroup friendships