The classroom social environment in mixed secondary school classes: The role of ethnic classroom composition and classmates’ explicitly and implicitly measured ethnic attitudes

Abstract The ethnic classroom composition and classmates’ attitudes can affect how students experience their social environment (CSE). Following the imbalance of power thesis prior research on attitudes, this cross-sectional study examined if (i.e., proportion in-group Herfindahl Index) explicitly implicitly measured predicted secondary school students’ ( M age = 13.31 years; 58.1% female) belonging, popularity likability, cohesion conflict in mixed classes Netherlands. Differences between non-ethnic Dutch n 248) versus 141) were as well. Ethnic report an overall more negative CSE than classmates. Multilevel analyses indicated that a higher peers affected likability negatively. Moreover, predictive student while likability. Finally, classmates moderated effect shared belonging. These results show promoting diversity is not enough to create positive for all students. Classmates’ are also important consider.