Publications [#318700] of Sarah E. Gaither

Journal Articles

1. Gaither, SE; Sommers, SR (2013). Living with an other-race roommate shapes Whites' behavior in subsequent diverse settings. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 49(2), 272-276. [doi]
   (last updated on 2026/01/17)

   Abstract:
   In a multi-phase research design over two academic semesters, White college students assigned to either a same-race or other-race roommate were tracked across two survey phases and a third phase involving an interracial interaction with a Black stranger. After four months, Whites who lived with an other-race roommate came to have more diverse friends and believe that diversity was more important than did Whites with a White roommate. After six months, self-reports, partner ratings, and nonverbal behavior indicated that Whites with an other-race roommate were less anxious, more pleasant, and more physically engaged during a novel interracial interaction. These results demonstrate that residential contact with other-race individuals not only affects race-related attitudes, but can also reduce interracial anxiety and positively influence behavior in subsequent diverse settings. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.