Title

Parent–child closeness and acculturation in predicting racial preference in mate selection among Asian Americans.

School/Department

Rosemead School of Psychology

Publication Date

2016

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between parent–child emotional closeness along with acculturation in terms of behaviors and values in predicting racial preference in mate selection among Asian Americans. An online questionnaire comprising the Parent Adolescent Communications Scale, Relational Closeness Inventory, Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale, Asian Values Scale–Revised, Self-Construal Scale, and a scale used to assess personal openness and general attitudes toward interracial relationships were completed by 154 Asian American young adults. Results indicated that behavioral acculturation and parent–child relational closeness significantly added to the prediction of racial preference in mate selection while values acculturation approached significance. Moreover, there were no significant moderating effects between parent–child relational closeness and values acculturation or behavioral acculturation on racial preference in mate selection. Results from this study suggested the importance of considering implicit ways the quality of parent–child relationships influences Asian Americans’ racial preference in mate selection and the possible values conflicts that may arise in working with interracial couples and Asian American young adults.

Keywords

Mate selection; Asian Americans; Interracial couples

Publication Title

Asian American Journal of Psychology

Volume

7

Issue

4

First Page

265

Last Page

273

DOI of Published Version

10.1037/aap0000059

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