Family Matters: Examining Family Racial Identity Invalidation Among Biracial People

Abstract

A common racial stressor for Multiracial people is racial identity invalidation: the experience of having one’s racial identity denied by others. This preregistered, exploratory study investigated Biracial people’s experiences of identity invalidation within a family setting. We used a sample of 383 Biracial adults (Mage = 21.3, SD = 5.8; 72.3% female; 25.8% male; 1.9% transgender/gender non-conforming) to examine the frequency of family racial identity invalidation, its associations with family relations and psychosocial well-being, and characteristics of family members who perpetrated invalidation. Nearly half of participants reported racial identity invalidation from at least one family member, and this rate did not differ between Biracial subgroups (Asian-White, Latine-White, Black-White, Black-Minority, Other minority-White). Within the Latine-White subgroup, family invalidation was negatively associated with family relations and psychosocial well-being. Participants across all subgroups reported experiencing invalidation more frequently from extended family members (e.g., grandparents, aunts/uncles, etc.), compared to immediate family members. However, participants reported invalidation from White and racial minority relatives at similar frequencies. These findings emphasize the salience of extended family members in understanding Multiracial people’s experiences of racial identity invalidation. This study also highlights the need for further research on specific Multiracial subgroups, particularly among Latine-White people.

Publisher

Springer

Publication Date

9-2025

Publication Title

Race and Social Problems

Department

Psychology

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-025-09454-0

Keywords

Biracial, Multiracial, Racial identity invalidation, Intrafamilial racism, Psychosocial well-being, Family relations

Language

English

Format

text

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