Profiles of Racist/Antiracist Attitudes and Behaviours Among Spanish Youth. A Cluster Analysis.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26754/ojs_ais/accionesinvestig.soc..20254711450Keywords:
Racism, Profiles, Attitude, Youth, Statistical analysis, Cultural diversityAbstract
This study examines the racist and anti-racist attitudes and behaviours of Spanish youth within a context of growing cultural diversity. The main objective is to identify divergent profiles among young people (aged 15–29) based on their attitudes and behaviours towards racism, and to determine the variables that characterise these profiles, with the aim of informing inclusive educational and policy interventions.
The methodology involved a cluster analysis (K-means technique) conducted on a representative sample of 1,200 young people residing in Spain. Data was collected via online surveys (CAWI) using validated questionnaires. Five indices were developed to measure racist and anti-racist attitudes and behaviours, which were then analysed statistically to define the clusters. The results revealed three distinct clusters: Cluster 1 (“High manifestation of racist behaviours”), mainly composed of men, with the highest levels of aggressive and discriminatory behaviours, as well as high levels of victimisation; Cluster 2 (“Predominance of racist attitudes”), also predominantly male, showed high levels of social and relational racism, but fewer reported racist behaviours; Cluster 3 (“Predominance of anti-racist attitudes and behaviours”), the largest group and mostly women, presented the lowest levels of racism and the highest levels of anti-racism, despite some reported experiences of discrimination.
The conclusions highlight the importance of variables such as gender, political ideology, religiosity, family context, and social diversity in shaping these profiles. The study underscores the need for tailored educational strategies, the promotion of critical thinking to counteract hate speech, and stronger collaboration between families, schools and communities to foster inclusive values. Finally, it stresses the value of continued quantitative research in this field to better refine the characterisation of these youth profiles.
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Data Availability Statement
The data and materials used in this study are available upon request. These correspond to the open microdata provided in the report by Andújar et al. (2022), developed by Fad Juventud and the Queen Sofía Center on Adolescence and Youth. To request access, please visit the official website of the Fad Juventud Foundation.
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