The relationship between the acting White accusation, racial-ethnic identity, and college belongingness in racial and ethnic groups

The “acting White” accusation (AWA) is a form of cultural invalidation that is commonly experienced in adolescence and young adulthood among Black and Latina/o youth. The accusation negatively influences their mental health, racial-ethnic identity, and self-esteem. However, no studies have examined how AWA presents in Asian/Asian American communities and few studies have assessed how AWA influences feelings of belonging among those who are accused of “acting White.” The current study addresses these gaps by measuring differences in the meaning of “acting White” and AWA behaviors between diverse populations, as well as perceived racial-ethnic identity and feelings of college belonging. Findings revealed a negative association between AWA and college belonging, and a positive association between racial-ethnic identity and college belonging. The findings also indicate that racial-ethnic identity did not mediate the relationship between AWA and college belonging. The results highlight the complex relationship between AWA, racial-ethnic identity, and college belongingness.