Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology

The relation between polyculturalism and intergroup attitudes among racially and ethnically diverse adults.
Research on intergroup ideologies (colorblindness, multiculturalism) has increased our understanding of intergroup attitudes. This article reports empirical tests of the relation between a newly studied ideology, polyculturalism (ideology focusing on interactions and connections among racial/ethnic groups), and intergroup attitudes. Across four studies (with racially/ethnically diverse U.S. undergraduates, and Black and White American adults), greater endorsement of polyculturalism was related to greater equality beliefs; appreciation for and comfort with diversity; willingness for intergroup contact; and endorsement of liberal immigration and affirmative action policies. Polyculturalism explained unique variance after controlling for colorblindness, multiculturalism, assimilation ideology, social dominance orientation, and right-wing authoritarianism. Implications and future directions of studying polyculturalism are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Discrimination, acculturation, acculturative stress, and Latino psychological distress: A moderated mediational model.
Prior research has found that perceived discrimination is associated with adverse mental health outcomes among Latinos. However, the process by which this relationship occurs remains an understudied area. The present study investigated the role of acculturative stress in underlying the relationship between perceived discrimination and Latino psychological distress. Also examined was the ability of acculturation to serve as a moderator between perceived discrimination and acculturative stress. Among a sample of Latino adults (N = 669), moderated mediational analyses revealed that acculturative stress mediated the perceived discrimination-psychological distress relationship, and that the link between perceived discrimination and acculturative stress was moderated by Anglo behavioral orientation but not Latino behavioral orientation. The findings are discussed within a stress and coping perspective that identifies the psychological consequences associated with perceived discrimination and acculturative stress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
The psychological costs of painless but recurring experiences of racial discrimination.
When studying discrimination, it is important to examine both perceived frequency and stress associated with these experiences, as well as the interplay between these two dimensions. Using data from Latino/a participants (N = 168), we found an interaction effect of the reported frequency and reported stressfulness of discrimination on psychological distress (depression and anxiety), such that frequency predicted greater psychological distress for low-stress events, but high-stress events were associated with greater distress regardless of frequency. In addition, using the constructs of “stated” and “derived” stressfulness, we found that the frequency of experiences of discrimination that were rated as less stressful were, in fact, correlated with greater psychological distress. Discrimination events not experienced as stressful nonetheless may have negative implications for the target, especially if they occur frequently. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Secondary transfer effects of interracial contact: The moderating role of social status.
The contact hypothesis asserts that intergroup attitudes can be improved when groups have opportunities to interact with each other. Recent research extending the contact hypothesis suggests that contact with a primary outgroup can decrease bias toward outgroups not directly involved in the interaction, which is known as the secondary transfer effect (STE). The present study contributes to growing research on STEs by investigating effects among Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White undergraduate students (N = 3,098) attending 28 selective colleges and universities. Using hierarchical linear modeling, our results reveal numerous positive STEs among Asian, Black, and Hispanic college students. No significant STEs were observed among White students. Mediated moderation analyses support an attitude generalization mechanism, because STEs were explained by changes in attitudes toward the primary outgroup. This research speaks to equivocal findings in the extant STE literature and highlights directions for future research on social cohesion and bias reduction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
The relationship of microaggressions with alcohol use and anxiety among ethnic minority college students in a historically White institution.
Little is known about how microaggressions may impact the health and mental health of college students of color attending historically White universities. In this study, students provided self-report of the number of racial and ethnic microaggressions they had experienced over the previous month, as well as data on anxiety symptoms (Beck Anxiety Inventory), alcohol consumption (Daily Drinking Questionnaire) and consequences (Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index), and self-efficacy to cope with daily hassles (General Self-efficacy Scale) and with high risk drinking situations (Situational Confidence Questionnaire). As expected, students of color reported significantly more microaggressions than their European American counterparts. Microaggressions and self-efficacy were significantly associated with anxiety (Full Model R² = .20; p <.001), microaggressions and self-efficacy were significantly associated with binge drinking (Full Model R² = .10; p <.01), and microaggressions, binge drinking events, self-efficacy, and microaggressions × self-efficacy interaction were significantly associated with alcohol related consequences (Full Model R² = .28; p <.001) among the students of color. Results suggest that microaggressions may represent a health and mental health risk to students of color. Implications of study results and future research directions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Perceived utility of emotion: The structure and construct validity of the Perceived Affect Utility Scale in a cross-ethnic sample.
This study introduces a new measure of the perceived utility of emotion, which is the degree to which emotions are perceived to be useful in achieving goals. In this study, we administered this new measure, the Perceived Affect Utility Scale (PAUSe), to a sample of 142 European American and 156 East Asian American college students. Confirmatory factor analyses provided support for a new, culturally informed parsing of emotion and for perceived utility of emotion to be distinguishable from ideal affect, a related but separate construct. Next, we explored the potential importance of perceived utility of emotion in cultural research. Through path analyses, we found that: (a) culturally relevant variables (e.g., independence) played a mediating role in the link between ethnic group and perceived utility of emotion; and (b) perceived utility of emotion played a mediating role in the link between culturally relevant variables and ideal affect. In particular, perceived utility of self-centered emotions (e.g., pride) was found to be associated with independence and ideal affect of those same emotions. In contrast, perceived utility of other-centered emotions (e.g., appreciation) was found to be associated with interdependence, dutifulness/self-discipline, and ideal affect of those same emotions. Implications for perceived utility of emotion in understanding cultural factors are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Validation of Social Connectedness in Mainstream Society and the Ethnic Community Scales.
This study examined the psychometric properties of the Social Connectedness in Mainstream Society (SCMN) and the Social Connectedness in the Ethnic Community (SCETH) Scales in two groups of ethnic minorities. We especially examined their theoretical/conceptual and empirical viability in relation to other established constructs of general social connectedness, acculturation, and enculturation. Analyses of two sets of survey data from 200 Mexican American students in California and 134 Asian international students in Minnesota supported (a) construct validity of the SCMN and the SCETH as related but distinct structures, (b) convergent and discriminant validity in relation to acculturation and enculturation, and (c) high reliability. The examination of incremental validity in predicting subjective well-being further supported their distinctive utility in addition to other established constructs of general social connectedness, acculturation, enculturation, ethnic identity, and other group orientation. Implications for future research and practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Perception of racial discrimination and psychopathology across three U.S. ethnic minority groups.
To examine the association between the perception of racial discrimination and the lifetime prevalence rates of psychological disorders in the three most common ethnic minorities in the United States, we analyzed data from a sample consisting of 793 Asian Americans, 951 Hispanic Americans, and 2,795 African Americans who received the Composite International Diagnostic Interview through the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Studies. The perception of racial discrimination was associated with the endorsement of major depressive disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia, agoraphobia without history of panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders in varying degrees among the three minority groups, independent of the socioeconomic status, level of education, age, and gender of participants. The results suggest that the perception of racial discrimination is associated with psychopathology in the three most common U.S. minority groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Use of cognitive question testing methodologies in participant action research: Implementing the three-step test-interview method in Indian county.
This study describes the use of cognitive question testing methods to pretest a Web-based questionnaire designed to gather information from American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth between the ages of 18 and 25. The questionnaire included items related to risk and resiliency factors as well as potentially sensitive topics of victimization and delinquency. Question testing was completed with a sample of 15 youth living in three different regions of the United States. The Three Step Test Interview Method was modified to collect information related to interface usability, cognitive response, and cultural interpretation of survey items. Data collected from the question testing process resulted in questionnaire changes that included query wording, the inclusion and exclusion of survey items based on cultural input, the reordering and rendering of survey items, and improvements in interface usability. Implications for survey research with the AI/AN youth population are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Being mixed: Who claims a biracial identity?
What factors determine whether mixed-race individuals claim a biracial identity or a monoracial identity? Two studies examine how two status-related factors—race and social class—influence identity choice. While a majority of mixed-race participants identified as biracial in both studies, those who were members of groups with higher status in American society were more likely than those who were members of groups with lower status to claim a biracial identity. Specifically, (a) Asian/White individuals were more likely than Black/White or Latino/White individuals to identify as biracial and (b) mixed-race people from middle-class backgrounds were more likely than those from working-class backgrounds to identify as biracial. These results suggest that claiming a biracial identity is a choice that is more available to those with higher status. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Review of The neuropsychology of Asian Americans.
Reviews the book, The Neuropsychology of Asian Americans edited by Daryl E. M. Fujii (see record 2010-22283-000). The Neuropsychology of Asian Americans fills in an important gap in the existing literature on neuropsychology as it specifically relates to Asian American cultural groups. Each chapter covers one particular Asian or Asian American subgroup and provides useful information for neuropsychologists on pertinent issues related to this group. Each chapter is clearly written and comprehensively yet succinctly describes relevant historical and contextual information, such as each group’s immigration history, as well as recommendations for neuropsychological testing. Although this book does a far better job than most resources at highlighting differences among Asian American subgroups, further specificity would be useful. Another limitation is a lack of consistency and conciseness in the way the chapters present their information. This book is geared toward neuropsychological testing and is recommended as a useful resource for anyone who works with Asian Americans in a clinical or therapeutic context as well. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Review of Cultural processes: A social psychological perspective.
Reviews the book, Cultural Processes: A Social Psychological Perspective edited by Angela K.-Y. Leung, Chi-Yue Chiu, and Ying-Yi Hong (see record 2011-00742-000). The authors’ review of the social psychology literature cover the range and depth of knowledge available regarding the functions, activation principles, societal interconnections, processes in transcultural settings, and future research directions in cultural processes. This well-organized volume reads smoothly from one chapter to another with each author building on the information of the previous authors. Arguably, after reading this book any question regarding culture can be answered through the use of this book; which leads to the key strength of this volume, its comprehensiveness. Practitioners will be able to use this book as a resource to help them understand and learn from clients who are of different cultural backgrounds (e.g., Chapter 8 and 9). Organizational psychologists may use these findings to increase productivity and creativity in the workforce (Chapters 10, 13, 14, and 15). Researchers will find new ideas for investigation in the summary sections of each chapter. Lastly, professors and students will find this text invaluable in an introductory graduate course on multiculturalism or as an add-on to any course. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology - Vol 18, Iss 1