Group Processes & Intergroup Relations 2014, Vol 17(1) 100–109 © The Author(s) 2013 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1368430213493485 gpir.sagepub.com Article G P I R Group Processes & Intergroup Relations Article 93485 17 1 10.1177/1368430213493485Group Processes & Intergroup RelationsCheng et al. 1 University of California, Irvine, USA 2 Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, USA 3 University of Michigan, USA Corresponding author: Karen Cheng, Department of Informatics, University of California, Irvine, 5042 Donald Bren Hall, Irvine, CA 92697- 3440, USA. Email: kgcheng@uci.edu How ethnic identity is affected by close relation- ships is practically relevant in the lives of many Americans. Ethnic diversity is increasing in many parts of the country, such that in states like Cali- fornia, there is now no one ethnic group that represents a majority of the population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). Living alongside, work- ing with, and marrying people of other ethnic backgrounds is a common experience for many Americans. Yet, maintaining a connection to one’s ethnic background is also valued among many individuals (Cross & Cross, 2007; Phin- ney & Alipuria, 1990; Roberts et al., 1999; T. B. Interpersonal relationships influence ethnic identification among Asian-American women Karen Cheng, 1,2 Terri Conley, 3 and Ali Ziegler 3 Abstract We sought to examine the fluidity of ethnic identification and test shared reality’s hypothesis concerning the effects of interpersonal relationships on ethnic identification. To investigate the effects of ethnicity of spouse on ethnic identification, Asian-American women (66 from same-ethnicity marriages, 46 from mixed-ethnicity marriages) completed several measures of ethnic identification after thinking about positive aspects of their relationship with either their spouse or their mother. Women in same-ethnicity marriages reported equivalent levels of ethnic identification whether they thought about their mother or their spouse. Women in mixed-ethnicity marriages reported lower ethnic identification when they thought about their different-ethnicity spouse; but when thinking about their mother, they reported high ethnic identification equivalent to the levels reported by women in same- ethnicity marriages. Mediational analyses revealed that, consistent with shared reality theory, shared understanding of one’s ethnic identity with one’s spouse partially mediated the relationship between same- and different-ethnicity spouses and ethnic identification. Implications for theories of ethnic identity and for individuals in mixed-ethnicity romantic relationships are discussed. Keywords close relationships, ethnic identity, shared reality Paper received 30 November 2011; revised version accepted 13 May 2013. at UNIV OF MICHIGAN on June 26, 2015 gpi.sagepub.com Downloaded from