Factors Predicting Inter-Ethnic Friendships at the Workplace

• Published in: Interpersona: An International Journal on Personal Relationships
• Main Authors: Intan H. M. Hashim, Norzarina Mohd-Zaharim, Siamak Khodarahimi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: PsychOpen GOLD/ Leibniz Institute for Psychology 2012-12-01
• Subjects: friendships; inter-ethnic friendships; ethnic identification; friendship satisfaction
• Online Access: http://interpersona.psychopen.eu/article/view/100/112

This study explored factors that may contribute to inter-ethnic friendships, both in terms of quantity and satisfaction with those friendships. Participants were 200 working adults who were studying part-time in a long-distance program in a university in Malaysia. In general, demographic factors (gender, ethnicity, education, and income) had no significant relationships with number of inter-ethnic friends and satisfaction people had with inter-ethnic friendships. Ethnic identity and stress at work also did not have significant relationships with number of inter-ethnic friends. However, they were significantly related to satisfaction with inter-ethnic friendships. People with higher ethnic identification were more satisfied with inter-ethnic friendships whereas people with more stress at work reported lower satisfaction with inter-ethnic friendships.