Examining the relation between racial identity attitude clusters and psychological health outcomes in African American college students

Using Cross's expanded Nigrescence theory, this study examined the relation between patterns of racial identity attitudes and mental health outcomes among a sample of 317 Black American college students. Racial identity attitudes were operationalized using the Cross Racial Identity Scale, and the mental health outcomes assessed included subjective well-being, hardiness, and general psychological health. Results from a cluster analysis indicated a five-cluster solution (Low Race Salience, Multiculturalist, Self-Hatred, Immersion, and Afrocentric), which for the most part is consistent with previous research. In addition, differential associations were found between cluster groups and psychological health outcomes, where participants in the Multiculturalist cluster reported greater levels of psychological well-being and those in the Immersion cluster group reported the lowest levels. The implications for these findings with respect to future research are discussed.