Cultural Differences In Perception Research Articles

Neural Processing of Sexist Comments: Associations between Perceptions of Sexism and Prefrontal Activity.

Sexism is a widespread form of gender discrimination which includes remarks based on gender stereotypes. However, little is known about the neural basis underlying the experience of sexist-related comments and how perceptions of sexism are related to these neural processes. The present study investigated whether perceptions of sexism influence neural processing of receiving sexist-related comments. Participants (N = 67) read experimental vignettes describing scenarios of comments involving gender stereotypes while near-infrared spectroscopy recordings were made to measure the hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal cortex. Results found a significant correlation between participants' perceptions of sexism and brain activation in a brain cluster including the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and inferior frontal gyrus. There was a significant gender difference where female participants showed a stronger negative correlation compared to male participants. Future research can expand on these initial findings by looking at subcortical structures involved in emotional processing and gender stereotype application as well as examining cultural differences in perceptions of gender stereotypes and sexism.

Dual educational rationality and acculturation in Mapuche people in Chile.

Even though Mapuche people represent the largest indigenous population in Chile, the "logic of double rationality" in their educational knowledge and its link with acculturation dynamics, has been scarcely studied. The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between the attitudes toward school education and the acculturation orientations of 468 Mapuche people, with ages from 17 to 53 years (M = 16.19; SD = 7.0). Participants were students of secondary schools and universities from urban and rural areas of different regions of Chile. Results showed that most of the participants presented a bicultural orientation (39.4%), followed by a group of segregated or ethnic identity profile (23.5%), while those who preferred assimilation (17.5%), and marginalization (20.7%) represented a minority. Results indicated that people identified as bicultural scored higher in the components of dual Mapuche/ Chilean Mestizo educational rationality than the other acculturation profiles. Also, the fluency in speaking Mapuche language was positively associated with the perception of cultural differences in knowledge and education between Mapuche and Chilean culture, the evaluation of the teaching of Mapuche culture, the perception of school as a factor of assimilation, the valuation of bicultural practices, and the justification of double rationality. Findings' contributions to the development of pertinent educational practices in contexts of social and cultural diversity are discussed.

On Cultural Differences of Heroes: Evidence From Individualistic and Collectivistic Cultures.

Building on earlier research that examined the characteristics people associate with heroes, our research examined similarities and differences of the hero stereotype across cultures. Specifically, in Study 1 (N = 209) and Study 2 (N = 298), we investigated lay perceptions of heroes among participants from a collectivistic culture. In Study 3 (N = 586), we examined whether group membership could be determined by participants' centrality ratings of the combined set of hero features. In Study 4 (N = 197), we tested whether the hero features that distinguish American and Chinese participants, when used to describe a target person, influence the impression that the target person is a hero. In Study 5 (N = 158) and Study 6 (N = 591), we investigated cultural differences in perceptions of different types of heroes (e.g., social, martial, civil) and the influence of individualism and collectivism on the perception of those heroes.

Expatriation-enhanced competencies: A multiple case study of technology-based entrepreneurs

PURPOSE: Facing the research gap of entrepreneurial learning by self-expatriated technology-based entrepreneurs, the purpose of this research is to explore those entrepreneurs’ beliefs and experiences across expatriation to identify the enhancement of their competencies. METHODOLOGY: Within a qualitative and exploratory multiple case theory-building approach, data was collected from twelve technology entrepreneurs from Brazil, Mexico, Germany, and Israel that went to the following destination countries: Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Ireland, Turkey, and the Netherlands. With interview data as the primary source, the data analysis rests on a qualitative content analysis. FINDINGS: Data allows structuring techpreneurs’ experience of expatriation along the following steps: (a) arrival in the destination country and initial process of socialization, (b) engaging in activities to get familiar with the culture of the destination country, (c) the gradual comprehensive understanding of the new context, and (d) comparisons between the home and destination country. Expatriation had an evident impact on the technology-based entrepreneurs that materializes in three groups of competencies: entrepreneurial competencies, knowledge and innovative competencies, and international competencies. Entrepreneurial competencies relate to relational and behavioral skills and the learning of doing business in different contexts. Concerning knowledge and innovative competencies, creativity, learning new techniques and international innovation environment stand at the fore. Finally, international competencies relate to the acceptance of different cultures (multicultural learning and perception of cultural differences), developing a sense of an international community and an international innovation culture. IMPLICATIONS: This study evidenced the influence of expatriation experiences on the training of skills of technology-based entrepreneurs, in a specific approach to entrepreneurial, innovative, and intercultural competencies. The research portrays self-expatriation as an opportunity for technology-based entrepreneurs to develop different competencies being helpful to innovate, to manage business and to operate in international markets. Universities and innovators may recognize their discretion to develop programs for people like former students who want to self-expatriate. In the same vein, government can design policy to attract self-expatriate in innovations hubs, considering that local inhabitants can benefit from the cultural exchange. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: This study contributes to better understanding the influence of self-expatriation experiences on the development of skills of technology-based entrepreneurs. Compared to previous studies, it advances research through providing a wider range of learning from expatriation experiences beyond the effect of internationalization on market knowledge and cultural aspects. Furthermore, this study focuses the process, not the results of self-expatriation to understand entrepreneurs’ learning.

Beliefs in inevitable justice curb revenge behaviours: Cultural perspectives on karma

AbstractAcross cultures, people believe that moral actions have ‘karmic’ consequences. Do cultures share assumptions about how karma operates? Four studies (N = 1114) assessed cultural differences in perceptions of inevitability associated with karmic justice and whether perceiving karma as inevitable curbs antisocial behaviours, such as revenge. Study 1 found that Indians perceived karmic justice as more inevitable than Americans and reported lower revenge. Studies 2–3 manipulated whether participants saw karmic justice as inevitable (vs. probable), finding that both Indians and Americans in the inevitable justice condition reported lower revenge. Study 3 found that perceived punishment certainty for oneself (for enacting revenge) rather than perceived punishment certainty for the offender (for the offence) better explained condition differences in revenge. Study 4 uncovered that reincarnation belief related to, and explained, cultural differences in inevitable karmic justice, which subsequently curbed revenge. Research on karma can uncover a range of cultural differences in psychological functioning.

Gender and victim stereotypes in perceptions of child sexual abuse in Puerto Rico

AbstractFactors such as cultural norms and stereotypes influence how child sexual abuse (CSA) is perceived in relation to gender of the offender and perceptions of responsibility and harm in Puerto Rico. Finkelhor and Browne's traumagenic dynamics model served as the theoretical framework for the investigation because it addresses four key factors related to the experience of CSA victims. A total of 525 people living in Puerto Rico participated in the study. They were asked to read a hypothetical case of CSA by a teacher with a minor student and answer related questions. Point‐biserial correlational analyses were used to assess the influence of gender of the offender on perceptions of CSA. Results of the study indicated the male offender was attributed more responsibility and harm for the offence. Both male and female minor victims were identified by participants as partly responsible for the offence. Male and female offenders were identified as victims. Findings of this study could help to improve understanding of cultural differences in perceptions of CSA cases and its consequences.

Visual Field Loss Impacts Vision-Specific Quality of Life by Race and Ethnicity: The Multiethnic Ophthalmology Cohorts of California Study

To assess the impact of visual field loss (VFL) on vision-specific quality of life (VSQOL) by race, ethnicity, and age. Pooled analysis of cross-sectional data from 3 population-based, prospective cohort studies. The Multiethnic Ophthalmology Cohorts of California Study (MOCCaS) participants included 6142 Latinos, 4582 Chinese Americans, and 6347 Black Americans from Los Angeles County. A total of 17 071 adults aged 40 years and older completed comprehensive interviews and ophthalmic examinations from 2000 to 2018. VFL was measured using the Humphrey Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm Standard 24-2 test as decibels (dB) of mean deviation (MD). Multivariable linear regression was used to evaluate the impact of VFL in the better-seeing eye on self-reported VSQOL scores, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical covariables. Hierarchical modeling was performed to determine the best-fit model after considering main effects and interactions by race, ethnicity, and age. The VSQOL scores were measured using the 25 Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25). Item response theory was used to model vision-related task and well-being composite scores, and classical test theory was used to calculate 11 vision subscales. The impact of VFL on VSQOL varied by race and ethnicity. Five-point reductions in task and well-being scores were reached after mild-to-moderate VFL for Latinos (6.7 dB and 7.5 dB), mild-to-moderate VFL for Chinese Americans (7.0 dB and 8.7 dB), and moderate-to-severe VFL for Black Americans (10.1 dB and 12.9 dB), respectively. Differences met statistical significance when comparing Latinos and Black Americans (P < 0.001). Visual field loss had the largest effect on driving among all participants. Driving difficulties were the only VSQOL outcome modified by age; participants aged 65 years and older scored 0.487 lower points per MD of VFL (P<0.001). Subscales most affected by VFL included role function, mental health, and dependency. Race and ethnicity modified the impact of VFL on VSQOL, even after adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. In MOCCaS, Latinos and Chinese Americans reported a greater change in VSQOL than Black Americans for the same level of VFL. Future work should assess whether findings were due to socioeconomic or cultural differences in perception of visual function.

Measuring What Matters in Long-Term Care: Common Data Elements in Brazil, China, and the United States

Internationally sharable common data elements on residential long-term care (LTC) settings, such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities, can facilitate comparisons across diverse LTC settings for valuable insights on LTC regulation and oversight, practice and operations, infrastructure development, human resources issues, and quality and safety. However, such insights are predicated on the premise that data elements capture information that matters to the full LTC community, including residents, relatives and staff, and are able to be collected across diverse care settings, including low-resource contexts. A critique of much current LTC measurement is its focus on deficits and loss, rather than thriving, person-centered care, and healthy aging, which have been established as important to LTC communities internationally. Further, measurement burden, cultural differences in perceptions of data sharing, and data infrastructure differences are key issues for international data. An international collaborative of LTC researchers—Worldwide Elements to Harmonize Research in Long-Term Care Living Environments (WE-THRIVE)—has developed a set of common data elements that are recommended for parsimoniously assessing key outcomes, workforce and staffing, person-centered care, and the contexts within which LTC settings operate. The studies in this symposium provide insights into the validation and implementation of WE-THRIVE recommended measures in diverse, low-resource LTC contexts, including LTC settings in Brazil, China, and rural Midwest US. Study findings validate WE-THRIVE measures, and provide new knowledge to inform capacity-building for the measurement of person-centered care and healthy aging outcomes in diverse, low-resource, LTC settings.

Infants are sensitive to cultural differences in emotions at 11 months.

A myriad of emotion perception studies has shown infants’ ability to discriminate different emotional categories, yet there has been little investigation of infants’ perception of cultural differences in emotions. Hence little is known about the extent to which culture-specific emotion information is recognised in the beginning of life. Caucasian Australian infants of 10–12 months participated in a visual-paired comparison task where their preferential looking patterns to three types of infant-directed emotions (anger, happiness, surprise) from two different cultures (Australian, Japanese) were examined. Differences in racial appearances were controlled. Infants exhibited preferential looking to Japanese over Caucasian Australian mothers’ angry and surprised expressions, whereas no difference was observed in trials involving East-Asian Australian mothers. In addition, infants preferred Caucasian Australian mothers’ happy expressions. These findings suggest that 11-month-olds are sensitive to cultural differences in spontaneous infant-directed emotional expressions when they are combined with a difference in racial appearance.

From play to pay: a multifunctional approach to the role of culture in post-merger integration

PurposeThe literature on Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), cultural differences between organizations have frequently been identified as one of the main challenges in the process of post-merger integration (PMI). Existing research has explored a broad variety of cultural differences in perceptions, such as those relating to expectations, norms, values and beliefs within the respective organizations, and how these affect the process and success of PMI. However, less attention has been paid to the relevance of the macro-societal context to PMI. The ambition of this article is, therefore, to advance our understanding of how macro-level societal factors define organizational cultures and affect the success of PMI.Design/methodology/approachWe draw on social systems theory as devised by Niklas Luhmann, assuming that organizations are always embedded in the macro-level societal context of distinctive realms of social reality—such as the economy, politics, religion and the arts—that make up the so-called “function systems”. Looking at the case of the integration of a Brazilian technology start-up into a market-leading corporation, we analyze the dominant orientations towards these function systems, and the changes in these orientations over time.FindingsThe results suggest that differences in organizational culture in PMI can be partly explained by differences in orientations to the function systems. Moreover, forcing dramatic changes of orientations towards the function systems within a merged entity can severely damage its raison d'etre in the first place, potentially leading to, in some sense, an account of “culture murder”.Originality/valueThis article is unique in demonstrating that organizations are multifunctional systems whose culture is defined by the highly specific and potentially varying degrees of importance they place on individual function systems and that knowledge or neglect of these functional profiles may seriously affect the success of post-merger integration. Against this backdrop, the article presents a multifunctional profiling method that may easily translate into PMI management tools.

Discrepancies in Perception of Cultural Differences and Their Potential for Intercultural Conflicts in German-Dutch Interactions

ABSTRACT We investigated whether the conflict potential of cultural characteristics might be influenced by the importance that interaction partners attribute to them. We conducted a quasi-experiment in which we analysed the attitudes of 74 German and 75 Dutch people towards two cultural characteristics which both Germans and Dutch consider to be equally important and two cultural characteristics which they regard as differently important. We determined whether they were aware of this difference in equal measure. We found that intercultural conflicts are unlikely when people from both cultures estimate correctly how important persons from the neighbouring culture regard a certain cultural characteristic.

Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among child survivors of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake: a comparison between Chinese ethnic Han and Hui groups.

BackgroundRelatively few studies have compared posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following a disaster among children of different ethnicities. We sought to investigate the differences in PTSD symptoms between the ethnic Hui and Han child survivors of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China.MethodsThis study collected data from 1,951 Han and 247 Hui child survivors of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China. The children ranged from 7 to 15 years of age. Earthquake-related exposures were measured using a modified version of the PsySTART Rapid Triage System. PTSD symptoms were evaluated using the University of California, Los Angeles PTSD-Reaction Index (UCLA PTSD-RI). Personality characteristics were assessed using the Junior Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (JEPQ). Multiple linear regression was used to investigate the association between the ethnicity and the severity of PTSD symptoms. Multiple logistic regression was used to investigate the association between the ethnicity and the percentage of screening positive for PTSD symptoms.ResultsThe average UCLA PTSD-RI total score of the ethnic Hui group (27.01 ± 9.24) was significantly higher than that of the ethnic Han group (25.12 ± 9.17) (t = −3.05, p = 0.002), as were the avoidance/numbness (Hui: 10.02 ± 4.82; Han: 9.04 ± 4.60, t = −3.12, p = 0.002) and arousal scores (Hui: 9.36 ± 3.64; Han: 8.79 ± 3.42, t = −2.44, p = 0.015). The percentage of screening positive for D criteria (arousal symptoms) also differed significantly between the ethnic Han (41.9%, 95% CI [39.7–44.1%]) and Hui (48.6%, 95% CI [42.3–54.9%]) groups (χ2 = 3.97, p = 0.046). Ethnicity was associated with the avoidance/numbness symptom score following adjustments for sex, age, personality traits and earthquake exposure experiences by multiple linear regression (B: 0.61, 95% CI [0.04–1.17], p = 0.035). The initial significant associations between the ethnicity and the arousal symptoms score and the PTSD total score disappeared while adjusting for the subjective earthquake exposure experiences (Model 5: arousal symptoms, B = 0.41, 95% CI [−0.01 to 0.83], p = 0.056; PTSD, B = 1.00, 95% CI [−0.07 to 2.07], p = 0.066). The initial significant association between the ethnicity and the percentage of screening positive for D criteria disappeared while adjusting for the objective earthquake exposure experiences (Model 4: OR = 1.32, 95% CI [1.00–1.75], p = 0.052).ConclusionThis study is the first to report the relationship between the ethnicity and PTSD symptoms among child survivors following a disaster. The findings of this study suggest that the trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy could also be an effective treatment for Chinese ethnic Hui and Han children who are suffering from PTSD. Future research could be designed to examine whether cultural differences in perceptions and interpretations may account for the variations in subjective experiences. More attention should be paid to the ethnic minority children with PTSD in the future.

Public Perceptions of Australian Assistance Dogs: Happier and Better Used Than Companion Dogs

ABSTRACT Previous studies have revealed cultural differences in perceptions of assistance dogs, but this has not been investigated in almost 20 years. This study aimed to develop an understanding of the Australian public’s perceptions toward both assistance and companion dogs. A questionnaire was completed by 258 Australians asking about their interest in, attitudes towards, and perceived happiness of the two types of dogs. Results revealed participants were equally interested in them, but More supportive of the use of assistance dogs, and perceived them as happier. Qualitative analyses revealed participants commonly endorsed the practical benefits of assistance dogs and the emotional benefits of companion dogs. Differences in happiness ratings can potentially be explained by the common endorsement that companion dogs are sometimes neglected while assistance dogs enjoy working and constant companionship with their handler. However, several participants expressed concern regarding the restrictive nature of the assistance work. There was an increase in concerns raised for the welfare of both dogs as compared to previous studies, suggesting a rise in concern about dog welfare and the ethics of keeping dogs for human benefits.

A qualitative examination of othering processes within international nursing placements

BackgroundInternational placements represent a popular choice to develop cultural competency and safety in nursing. The question as to whether study abroad programs enable the development of cultural competency and safety skills or provide exotic travel experiences needs further clarifications. ObjectiveThe study explores the usefulness of international placements in developing cultural safety among undergraduate nursing students. DesignAn exploratory qualitative design was used to answer these research questions: 1) How do undergraduate students make sense of their study abroad experiences? And 2) How international placements facilitate the acquisition of cultural safety and consciousness-raising about racial and social privileges? ParticipantsA sample of 7 participants who completed a 4th-year community and acute care stages in Global South countries were recruited. MethodsA postcolonial feminist theoretical approach was used to guide the study. Data collectionSemi-structured interviews explored participants' perceptions of cultural differences, ways of adapting to cultural diversity, and the benefits and challenges of their global experiences. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the data. ResultsThematic analysis revealed three themes: 1) Self-knowledge, 2) othering, and 3) consciousness of neocolonialism. DiscussionResults raise some concerns about the usefulness of international stages in developing cultural competency and cultural safety in undergraduate nursing students. Results indicate that international placements can be useful to raise consciousness about racial and social privileges. Yet, international placements involve some risks to the receiving Global South countries. This study unmasks Othering's processes, where participants reproduce harmful neocolonial relations. ConclusionsInternational placements involve cultural risks that translate into Othering processes where Global South nurses and students are represented as powerless. Postcolonial feminist theories are relevant to study international placements as they enable the critical examination of race, gender, and social class and how they play out in international placements in Global South countries.

Cross-cultural modifications and measurement properties of the CHAMPS questionnaire among Chinese older adults

Background/objectiveThe Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors questionnaires (CHAMPS-Q) is one of the most extensively used instruments in assessing physical activity among older adults. However, no study had translated the CHAMPS-Q into Chinese, and no evaluations were made on the psychometric properties of the CHAMPS-Q among the Chinese population. Considering cultural differences in perceptions of language, cultural context and living habits, this study was of necessary to 1) translate and cross-culturally adapt the original CHAMPS-Q, and 2) examine the test-retest reliability and construct/predictive validity of the Chinese version of the CHAMPS-Q. MethodsThe English CHAMPS-Q was first translated into Chinese, synthesized, back-translated, and revised by an expert committee according to the pre-test results. The Chinese CHAMPS-Q was then assessed in a cross-sectional study consisting of 101 apparently healthy older adults. Test-retest reliability test was conducted with 7 days apart. The construct validity of the Chinese CHAMPS-Q was tested against accelerometer data, and the predictive validity was assessed against physical fitness as measured by the Senior Fitness Test. ResultsThe Chinese CHAMPS-Q has moderate to excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.72-.96, p < .05). Energy expenditure and duration in PA significantly correlated with all accelerometry outcomes (ρ = 0.22-.31, p < .05). All the outcomes from the CHAMPS-Q showed significant correlations with upper body muscle strength (ρ = 0.22-.34, p < .05). ConclusionThe Chinese CHAMPS-Q has excellent test-retest reliability and acceptable construct and predictive validity in assessing the physical activity of Chinese older adults.

Chinese Tourism to the United States: The Role of Perceived Cultural Similarity

ABSTRACT China is the largest outbound tourism market in the world, and the United States is the most popular non-Asian destination. Research reveals an influence of country-level cultural differences on tourist behaviors but offers little insight into how individual-level perceptions of cultural differences might influence tourist travel intentions. This study uses data from potential Chinese tourists and finds that their perceptions of cultural similarity with the American culture have a direct positive impact on their travel intentions, as well as an indirect influence via perceived cultural travel risk; however, this influence is moderated by tourist personality, in particular, extraversion and neuroticism.

The Role of Methods of Service Encounter and Surprise in Customer Delight and Customer Loyalty in Indonesian Supermarkets

Traditionally, service encounters in firms have been conducted through interactions between customers and employees. In this digital age, however, different industries have begun to adopt Self-Service Technologies (SSTs) in which customers are serviced by a machine rather than a human employee. This study hypothesized that customer delight, customer retention intent, and Word-of-Mouth (WOM) intent can all be driven by both SST use and surprise. The purpose of this study was thus to examine the role of SSTs and surprise on the three aforementioned dependent variables in an Indonesian supermarket setting. 189 respondents were selected as the convenience sample to represent the Indonesian population, and a between-subjects experiment was conducted. The results revealed that neither service encounter method nor surprise had a significant impact on the three dependent variables. Surprise may not necessarily induce delight, perhaps due to a lack of a solid explanation that followed it and differences in cultural perceptions of surprise. Moreover, it was predicted that rather than the SST use itself, customer responses are influenced by the awareness of other Indonesians towards SSTs.

Perception of cultural differences and intercultural competence among Russian students with different levels of creativity

Многочисленные зарубежные исследования показали, что опыт межкультурных взаимодействий способен стимулировать креативность, в случае, когда человек к нему адаптирован. Индикатором адаптированности к ситуации межкультурных взаимодействий может выступать кросскультурная компетентность. Однако прошлые работы выявили противоречивые отношения компонентов межкультурной компетентности с креативностью. Данное исследование представляет собой качественный анализ восприятия межкультурных различий и межкультурной компетентности у более и менее креативных российских студентов с целью прояснить выявленные ранее паттерны взаимосвязи компонентов межкультурной компетентности с креативностью. Результаты контент-анализа 30 интервью показали, что более и менее креативные российские студенты по-разному воспринимают культурные отличия иностранцев от русских и, соответственно, имеют разные представленияо необходимых им межкультурных компетенциях и их основаниях.

Multiculturalism and Cultural Identity in Art Production

The progressive stage of remarkable development in the studies conducted at the fields of multiculturalism and indigenous arts has the key role for revealing the perception of cultural differences, believes and traditions. As a way for plenty of thoughtful readings has presented the value of cultural and social theories, it could also be useful ways for presenting thoughtful accepting on intercultural boundaries. Such themes are included constantly to deal with the perceptions of people discrimination, cultural diversity and social and cultural identity. The current study presents a review on the multicultural issues that are tackled mainly for verifying the salient values of cultural intersection and cultural connections with concerning indigenous arts. The article will also consider to review the influence of multiculturalism in the most applicable types of indigenous arts. It reviews, through relevant studies, the recent issues of cultural transformation, effective roles of indigenous art, and multiculturalism that are emerged in the social and cultural field. The article aims to tie the reviewed intercultural issues with the external influential factors that are assumed to impact the community fabric compressively. The present study could approve that cultural diversity causes differences in perception of cultural identity and ways of producing indigenous arts. Since most results emphasize that indigenous artists produce different artistic products at various multicultural environments with the basis of cultural background, ethnicity and identity. Instead, the study confirms that existing diverse culturally environments are essential for providing original aspects of traditional products.

Differences in social and physical dimensions of perceived walkability in Mexican American and non-hispanic white walking environments in Tucson, Arizona

IntroductionPhysical activity patterns within the U.S. vary greatly across ethnicity, with data generally indicating lower rates among Hispanic/Latino adults. At the same time, Hispanic/Latino pedestrians face higher rates of injury and fatalities. Despite the importance of supportive physical activity environments on both health and safety outcomes, limited attention has been paid to ethnic or cultural differences in perceptions of supportive environments for walking. To fill this gap, we explore differences in physical and social environment contributors to perceived walkability between pedestrians in predominantly (>70%) Mexican American and predominantly non-Hispanic white areas in Tucson, Arizona. MethodsIn early 2017 the research team conducted brief on-street intercept interviews with pedestrians (N = 190) to learn about the environmental attributes associated with pedestrian perceptions of walkability. Study locations were matched for similar physical walkability metrics, income, and poverty rates. Consensus-based thematic coding identified 14 attributes of the built and social environment that contributed, positively and negatively, to perceptions of walkability. ResultsAttributes of the social environment, both positive (i.e., social interaction, social cohesion, and community identity) and negative (i.e., crime/security), were more frequently expressed as components of walkability in Mexican American study areas while physical environment attributes (i.e., infrastructure, street crossings, and aesthetics) were more frequently mentioned in non-Hispanic white areas. ConclusionsContributors to perceived walkability in non-Hispanic white study areas were largely consistent with existing built environment-focused walkability metrics. Differences seen in Mexican American areas suggest a need to better understand differences across populations, expand the construct of walkability to consider social environment attributes, and account for interactions between social and physical environments. Results highlight the need for collaboration between public health and planning professionals, to evaluate walkability using culturally relevant measures that account for the social environment, particularly in Mexican American and other communities of color.