Can a 10-minute intergroup contact intervention reduce prejudice among youth in a post-conflict setting?

This study examined the effectiveness and durability of a brief direct contact intervention in reducing prejudice among Greek Cypriot university students towards Turkish Cypriots in the divided and post-conflict context of Cyprus. The sample included 96 participants (70 females, M age = 21.75), with 45 randomly assigned to the intervention condition. Participants were assessed across three time points. Results revealed that the intervention, relative to the control condition, produced short-term improvements in outgroup attitudes, behavioural intentions, outgroup trust, willingness for cohabitation, intergroup anxiety, and perceived similarity. Importantly, willingness for cohabitation, intergroup anxiety, and perceived similarity remained improved at the 1-month follow-up. These findings highlight the potential and limitations of brief direct intergroup contact in improving intergroup relations among young adults in conflict settings. We discuss theoretical implications and practical guidance for policy in segregated and long-entrenched conflict settings.