Critically Examining the Relationship Between Peer Diversity Interactions and Psychological Well-Being

Abstract

Our study examines how negative and positive diversity interactions influence students’ psychological well-being. Specifically, we explore how diversity interactions influence students’ psychological well-being at the end of their first year of college and how these experiences vary by race. Our findings suggest that while negative diversity interactions on college campuses have a negative influence on first-year collegians across racial categories, positive diversity interactions positively influenced only White students. We provide practical, theoretical, and research implications.