Race and self-esteem: meta-analyses comparing whites, blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and American Indians and comment on Gray-Little and Hafdahl (2000)

Psychol Bull. 2002 May;128(3):371-408; discussion 409-20. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.128.3.371.

Abstract

These meta-analyses examine race differences in self-esteem among 712 datapoints. Blacks scored higher than Whites on self-esteem measures (d = 0.19), but Whites scored higher than other racial minority groups, including Hispanics (d = -0.09), Asians (d = -0.30), and American Indians (d = -0.21). Most of these differences were smallest in childhood and grew larger with age. Blacks' self-esteem increased over time relative to Whites', with the Black advantage not appearing until the 1980s. Black and Hispanic samples scored higher on measures without an academic self-esteem subscale. Relative to Whites, minority males had lower self-esteem than did minority females, and Black and Hispanic self-esteem was higher in groups with high socioeconomic status. The results are most consistent with a cultural interpretation of racial differences in self-esteem.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Black or African American / psychology
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic
  • Ethnicity / psychology*
  • Ethnicity / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Indians, North American / psychology
  • Indians, North American / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Regression Analysis
  • Self Concept*
  • Social Class
  • Time Factors
  • White People / psychology
  • White People / statistics & numerical data