Minority Status Stress: factors that impact its effect on the psychological and academic functioning of African American students attending a predominantly white university

This investigation involved a partial test of a model examining the extent to which sociocultural orientation styles and perceived social support impact the effect of Minority Status Stress (perceived stressors attributed to being an ethnic minority) on the academic and psychological functioning of African American students at a predominantly white university. Eighty African American undergraduate and graduate students were administered self report questionnaires to assess their standing on the relevant variables. Path analytic techniques supported a linear relationship in which sociocultural orientation styles impacted the level of minority status stress experienced which in turn impacted the students perceived social support. All of these factors had a significant impact on the student's psychological adaptation to the predominantly white university environment.