Effects of Cross-Group Friendships on Intergroup attitudes of Han and Uyghur in Xinjiang: The Mediating Role of an Anxiety-Reduction Mechanism

Recent evidence suggests that direct friendship with outgroup members can improve attitudes toward the outgroup. Through cross-group and in-group interaction context, the present study examines the effect of cross-group friendship at different levels of friendship closeness on intergroup attitudes. Study 1, using 120 Uyghur adolescent students and 40 Han adolescent students, and study 2, using 120 Han adolescent students and 40 Uyghur adolescent students test whether (a) cross-group friendship have generalized effects on both prejudice and perceived outgroup variability and (b) reduced anxiety about future encounters with outgroup members mediated such relationships. The mediation analysis confirmes that, in both study, cross-group friendships between Han ethnic group and Uyghur ethnic group are associated with reduced prejudice toward the ethnic outgroup and increased perceived outgroup variability, via an anxiety-reduction mechanism. It is argued that emerging generalization hypotheses help to integrate both cognition and affect and interpersonal and intergroup approaches to contact.