Perceived Ethnic Stigma Across the Transition to Adulthood

PWP-CCPR-2010-030

Abstract

Despite the belief that stigma shapes the developmental trajectories of ethnic minorities, research has rarely examined changes in perceived stigma across the transition to adulthood. In this study, we examined changes in discrimination and public regard among 514 Latino, European, and Asian American emerging adults from 12th grade to two years post high school. We also examined whether these changes depended on school or work context, gender, and ethnicity. Results suggest that although ethnic minority emerging adults’ reports of personal discrimination decrease across the transition to adulthood, their perceptions of society’s negative opinion of their ethnic group increase. Ethnic stigma appears to be a unique challenge facing Latino youth, particularly those who attend four year colleges.