Social Distance and Trait Attribution among Four Southeast Asian Ethnic Groups in the United States

This study explored social distance and trait attribution and the relationship between the two variables in persons of four Southeast Asian ethnic groups. 100 Cambodians, 102 Hmong, 102 Laotians, and 101 Vietnamese in the United States were administered a modified Bogardus Social Distance Scale with respect to seven different ethnic groups (the other three Southeast Asian groups, African American, Hispanic, and White), and rated these other groups on 10 traits: friendly and likable, in good health, unattractive, law abiding, hardworking, loyal, peaceful, unfair and dishonest, unintelligent, and have good morals. Cambodians expressed willingness to have the closest social distance with Whites and Laotians and their trait attributions were more favorable for these two groups. Theoretical and practical implications were suggested.