Relations of Perceived Ethnic Disparity to Involvement in Ethnic and Host Cultures

Abstract

Among 124 single foreign students residing in the USA, this study examined the relations between perceived ethnic disparity, consisting of physical, cultural, and linguistic dimensions, and ethnic and host culture involvement. The Ethnic Disparity Perception Inventory, a 44-item Likert scale devised to measure perceived ethnic disparity, showed perceived physical disparity ( r = .60) and cultural disparity ( r = .51) were positively related to ethnic involvement. Perceived cultural disparity ( r = -.22) and linguistic disparity ( r = -.27) were negatively associated with involvement in the host culture. Multiple regression analysis indicated that, although the findings held for non-White respondents, for White respondents ( n = 39) perceived physical disparity (β = .54), not cultural disparity, was a significant predictor of ethnic involvement (Adjusted R2 = .268) and perceived cultural disparity (β = -.37), not linguistic disparity, was a significant (negative) indicator of host culture involvement (Adjusted R2 = .110).