Considering the significance of ancestry through the prism of mixed-race identity

ANS Adv Nurs Sci. 2002 Dec;25(2):1-21. doi: 10.1097/00012272-200212000-00002.

Abstract

People of mixed ancestry promise to be a significant percentage of the population of the United States in the 21st century. This article describes a qualitative study of 20 older mixed-race adults of African-American-white and Asian-American-white ancestries and focuses on how the participants construct identity. Using grounded theory methodology, racial identity did not emerge as a singular, distinct entity in this study, and five dimensions of racial identity were observed. Significant differences in patterns of identity dimensions were noted for the two mixed groups. Implications for nursing practice are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Asian / psychology*
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Cultural Characteristics
  • Cultural Diversity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Marriage / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Marriage / psychology
  • Middle Aged
  • Nursing Methodology Research
  • Prejudice
  • Self Concept*
  • Social Behavior
  • Social Dominance
  • Social Identification*
  • Social Perception
  • Stereotyping
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States
  • White People / psychology*