Date of Conferral

1-27-2026

Date of Award

January 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Hedy Dexter

Abstract

Immigrants remain frequent targets of anti-immigrant hate speech, often amplified by right-wing media. Demographic factors such as Christian nationalism (i.e., the desire to preserve Christian symbols, beliefs, and policies preserved as the established religion of the United States), White racial centrality (i.e., an automatic association between the self and the White ingroup), and social dominance orientation (i.e., support for group-based hierarchies and inequality) significantly shape perceptions of immigrants as a threat to national identity. Although prior research has examined these factors independently, their relative importance in predicting perceived immigrant threat remains limited. Informed by intergroup threat theory, this quantitative study determined the relative importance of Christian nationalism, White racial centrality, and social dominance orientation in predicting perceived immigrant threat to national identity. Online surveys were administered via SurveyMonkey to White, English-speaking American citizens aged 18 and older residing in the United States. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed significant positive relationships between each predictor (i.e., Christian nationalism, White racial centrality, and social dominance orientation) and perceived immigrant threat to national identity. These results suggested that higher levels of Christian nationalism, White racial centrality, and social dominance orientation predicted higher levels of perceived immigrant threat to national identity. The findings have implications for positive social change by providing insight into the influences of perceived immigrant threat to national identity, which can inform campaigns to neutralize racist fearmongering and policy decisions that support a more inclusive vision of American national identity.

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