Befriending the same differently: ethnic, socioeconomic status, and gender differences in same-ethnic friendship

ABSTRACTThis study examines same-ethnic friendship variation between students from different ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender groups. Hypotheses based on a theoretical framework of opportunities, preferences, and third-party influence are tested on data of 11,063 students in English, German, Dutch, and Swedish school classes. Using structural equation modelling, the results indicate that ethnic groups differ in absolute and relative same-ethnic friendship because of different meeting opportunities with same-ethnic peers in class and a different status in the ethnic hierarchy. Socioeconomic status groups differ in same-ethnic friendship because socioeconomic status sorts students into more or less diverse school classes but not consistently so across countries and groups. Little further evidence is found for a relation between socioeconomic status and same-ethnic friendship preferences. Lastly, boys and girls do not seem to differ much regarding same-ethnic friendship.