Study: People in interracial relationships in the US lean more liberal
Americans whose partner is of a different race are more likely to describe themselves as politically liberal, an analysis of data on 12,603 young adults finds. Cause and effect remain unclear.
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People in interracial relationships in the United States are more likely to describe themselves as politically liberal. That is the finding of a study by Byron Miller, Madelyn Chandler and Nico Allen in The Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics, reported by the science site PsyPost on Oct. 29. The researchers analyzed the fourth wave of the U.S. long-term Add Health study, collected in 2008, when its 12,603 participants were roughly 24 to 32 years old. A relationship counted as interracial if the current or most recent partner's race differed from the participant's.
About 15% of respondents were in such a relationship. After adjusting for age, sex, education, marital status and race or ethnicity, they had 37% greater odds of holding more liberal views. The link was stronger for women than for men and for unmarried than for married participants. It was weaker among Asian and Hispanic participants than among white participants.
The authors stress that the data do not show cause and effect: it remains unclear whether liberal people are more likely to enter interracial relationships, whether such relationships change attitudes, or whether other factors drive both. The data also predate Donald Trump's presidency, and political views were measured with a single question on a five-point scale. "Interracial relationships are a catalyst for major changes in racial/ethnic relations and diversity in the United States," the authors write.
This article is for information only and is not legal, tax, financial or medical advice. Figures as of the date stated.