Bridging Divides: The Dynamic Effects of Contact on Minority-Majority Relations

This study advances intergroup contact theory by demonstrating that the effects of contact valence and its psychological mediators vary systematically by group status and context. Using multigroup regression analysis, we examined how positive and negative contact influence intergroup anxiety, perceived threat, and prejudice among black African minorities (N = 215) and Hong Kong Chinese majorities (N = 476). The findings reveal asymmetries in both the frequency and impact of contact: Minorities reported a broader range of contact experiences, while majorities expressed stronger prejudice. Positive contact reduced prejudice and anxiety among majority participants but had limited effects among minorities. Negative contact increased anxiety in both groups but heightened prejudice only among the majority. Mediation analyses further showed that anxiety, not threat, is a more pivotal mediator of contact effects on prejudice among high-status majority group members, whereas its role is weaker among low-status minorities. These findings underscore an important theoretical nuance, clarifying how the valence of contact can have asymmetric effects depending on group status and offering insights into the boundary conditions of intergroup contact theory.