Nigrescence Attitudes in Adolescence, Emerging Adulthood, and Adulthood

Abstract

In this study, the author reports on a cross-sectional examination of nigrescence attitudes measured with the Cross Racial Identity Scale (CRIS) using three demographically and developmentally different samples already in the literature: adolescents ( n = 143; M age = 14), emerging adults (n = 306; M age = 20.7), and adults (n = 105; M age = 34.1). Results indicated that CRIS subscales are measuring congruent constructs across these three developmental periods. Adolescents reported higher Assimilation, Miseducation, and Self-Hatred scores than emerging adults and higher Miseducation and Self-Hatred scores than the adult sample, with effect sizes in the medium to high range. Differences among the groups on Immersion-Emersion and Internalization subscales were small, and the six subscale scores did not allow for discrimination among the groups. These findings provide support for using the CRIS in longitudinal examinations of racial identity attitudes.