Abstract
This study was intended to examine the moderating effect of South Korean children’s encounter with children from multicultural families on the relationship between their fathers' perception of multicultural families and their racial awareness. Research participants include 273 South Korean children between 3 and 5 years of age and their fathers. Self-reported questionnaires were given to the fathers, and their children were also asked to respond to the items measuring their racial awareness, as well as their encounter with children from multicultural families. In this study, three racial categories, including Asian, White, and Black, were used to assess children’s racial awareness. The results of the study indicate that children tend to positively perceive Asian, White, and Black. While their perception of Asian was the most positive, that of Black was the least positive. The fathers' perception of multicultural families was significantly associated with their children’s perception of Black only. The children’s encounter with children from multicultural families did not moderate the relationship between their fathers’ perception of multicultural families and their racial awareness of White, but did the relationship between their fathers’ perception of multicultural families and their racial awareness of Asian and Black. The present study emphasizes the significance of enhancing fathers’ anti-bias recognition of multicultural families for their children’s positive perception of different cultures.
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Ouyang, J., Jahng, K.E. The Moderating Effect of South Korean Children’s Encounter with Children from Multicultural Families on the Relationship between Their Fathers' Perception of Multicultural Families and Their Racial Awareness. Child Ind Res 14, 2197–2210 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-021-09832-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-021-09832-1