Ethnic Groups Research Articles

A hill tribe community advisory board in Northern Thailand: lessons learned one year on

AbstractNorthern Thailand and its neighbouring regions are home to several minority ethnic groups known as hill tribes, each with their own language and customs. Hill tribe communities live mostly in remote agricultural communities, face barriers in accessing health, and have a lower socio-economic status compared to the main Thai ethnic group. Due to their increased risk of infectious diseases, they are often participants in our research projects.To make sure our work is in line with the interests of hill tribe communities and respects their beliefs and customs, we set up a hill tribe community advisory board. We consult the members before, during, and after our projects are carried out. This manuscript recounts how we set up the community advisory board and our reflections following one year of activities. Our experience strongly supports engaging with community advisory boards when working with minority ethnic groups in lower and middle-income settings. In particular, we found that over time, as researchers and members familiarise with one another and their respective environments, exchanges gain meaning and benefits increase, stressing the advantages of long-term collaborations over short or project-based ones.

ПСИХОЛОГІЧНІ ОСОБЛИВОСТІ СТАНОВЛЕННЯ НАЦІОНАЛЬНОЇ ІДЕНТИЧНОСТІ ОСОБИСТОСТІ

The current stage of the formation and development of the Ukrainian state is characterized by the special relevance of the issue of the formation of the national identity of its citizens. This is so, because a high level of an individual's ethnic identity is a significant aspect of the successful formation and development of the state and the harmony of its citizens. At the same time, the public consciousness of Ukrainians is currently filled with political interests and the latest ideological slogans. The latter, in turn, causes the destruction of the national system of values. Globalization and migration processes lead to increased interaction between different cultures and nations, which makes the study of national identity more relevant. Personality is a complex system influenced by both internal personal factors and the external environment, including cultural, social, and historical factors. The study of psychological features of national identity helps to understand how the self-awareness of an individual is formed in the context of its cultural roots and interaction with other cultures. This is important for many areas of life. The study of the psychological features of national identity involves the study of the following aspects: cultural stereotypes, values, self-esteem, a sense of belonging to a certain nation or ethnic group, etc. Understanding these psychological features will contribute to the development of a more tolerant society, as well as the identification of ways to support positive self-determination and identity in different cultural contexts. National identity is the recognition of the people themselves; knowledge and respect for history; national culture, territory, and the people's awareness of their own special features, as well as the understanding of the representatives of the national group of their own interests, goals, and needs. "National identity" is a category whose main elements are national self-determination, national self-awareness and traditional culture. A significant condition for the formation of the national (ethnic) identity of an individual is systematic interaction with the reference group for the purpose of forming common goals, vision and support of the national identity. Such interactions will help to confirm a high level of national identity of an individual and activate the mechanism of ethnic identification. And also to intensify socio-psychological factors and develop the components of the national identity of the individual.

Comparing Confidence in Institutions among Latino and White Catholics and Evangelicals: Exploring Religious Differences

ABSTRACT Recent surveys reveal declines in the U.S. public’s confidence in various institutions. Although some studies link these declines to religious factors, few disaggregate these patterns across racial and ethnic groups. Here, we focus on Latinos—a growing segment of the U.S. population and an increasingly religiously diverse part of the electorate. Using original, nationally representative survey data (N=4,321), we compare Latino evangelicals and Catholics to their white counterparts in their confidence in five institutions (religious organizations, higher education, the scientific community, Congress, and the press). We find that Latino and white Catholics consistently show high levels of confidence across institutions relative to white evangelicals. Our findings suggest that there may be more similarities in institutional confidence among those of different racial and ethnic groups who share a similar religious tradition than those who are of the same race or ethnicity but share different religious traditions. Patterns observed highlight the importance of examining institutional confidence through an intersectional lens that considers religious diversity within and across racial and ethnic groups.

The Associations Between Parenting and Bullying Among Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Parenting styles are closely related to bullying behavior in children and adolescents. However, differences in study design and inconsistent results create uncertainty regarding the relationship between parenting and bullying. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between four parenting styles and bullying perpetration/victimization through a meta-analysis, identifying sources of study heterogeneity by examining moderating effects. This meta-analysis included 107 studies with 624 effect sizes and 162203 participants (49.28% female, Mage = 13.51, SDage = 2.56). Results indicated that positive parenting was negatively correlated with bullying perpetration and victimization, while negative/harsh parenting and uninvolved parenting were positively correlated with bullying perpetration and victimization. A positive correlation was also found between psychologically controlling parenting and bullying victimization (not perpetration). Significant moderating variables included the identity of the caregiver, country of origin, ethnic group, reporter of parenting, reporter of bullying, and measure of bullying. Specifically, the mother's psychological control was more related to bullying perpetration and victimization than the father's. Compared to other countries and ethnic groups, the relationships between psychologically controlling parenting or negative/harsh parenting and bullying were more positive in studies of Chinese and Asians. The relationship between negative/harsh parenting and bullying demonstrated a greater effect size in self-reported measures of parenting and bullying. Finally, a stronger correlation was found between negative/harsh parenting and bullying victimization when using the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire to measure bullying. The current study deepens the understanding of the relationship between different parenting styles and bullying, emphasizing that adopting appropriate parenting, particularly positive parenting behaviors, helps mitigate bullying issues and achieve positive developmental outcomes for children and adolescents.

Familial and Individual Risk Factors, Sexual Assault, and Mental Health: A Comparison of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and White College Students.

Though sexual assault is prevalent among college campuses, there is a paucity of research on whether risk factors vary for different racial/ethnic groups. As such, this article examines familial and individual risk factors and three sexual assault types (coercive, physically forced, and incapacitated) with depressive symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms to see whether such risks vary for Black/African American, White, Asian, and Hispanic groups of college students. Data were gathered in 2019 to 2020 from 783 undergraduate college women and men at a large public university in the Midwestern United States. Results revealed that in terms of family background, Black/African American, Asian, and Hispanic students reported more experiences of child physical abuse and lower levels of warmth and support compared to White students. White college students, however, reported more frequent heavy drinking compared to Asian and Hispanic students. For sexual assault, Asian students reporting experiencing incapacitated sexual assault more so than White students, whereas Black/African American students reported experiences of physically forced sexual assault more so than White students. For mental health, Hispanic students reported more PTSD symptoms compared to White students while Asian students reported more depressive symptoms compared to their White counterparts. It is noteworthy that early experiences of child physical abuse and lower warmth and support continued to significantly impact both PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms. Our results demonstrate the importance of going beyond the typical dichotomy of White and non-White to gain a more nuanced understanding of how risk factors vary for different racial and ethnic groups, which has implications for intervention and prevention when understanding sexual assault and mental health outcomes.

How should trial teams make decisions about the proportions and diversity of the ethnic groups in their trial?

The benefits of randomised trials are not shared equally, and people from ethnic minority groups are a key constituency under-served by clinical research and clinical care. The STRIDE project aimed to give trialists practical information about how to decide which ethnic groups should be in their trials, and at what proportion. We considered trials in six clinical areas: cancer, cardiovascular, diabetes, maternal health, mental health, and smoking cessation. We created a summary for each, including participants-intervention-comparators-outcomes, and data on disease prevalence by ethnicity. These were discussed with panels with clinical expertise, trial and methodology expertise, lived experience, funding, and experience of working with and on behalf of ethnic communities. For each trial, we asked panel members to decide which ethnic groups should have been involved and at what proportion. We discussed 23 trials with 40 individual panel members. Panels found our questions difficult to answer. The lack of publicly available data on prevalence by ethnicity was central to this. Where data were available, decision-making was easier but not simple. The discussions led to eight STRIDE recommendations. We recommend that discussions involve diverse teams and that discussions need time, with access to the best available data. In the absence of data or consensus, we recommend the adoption of 'default' minimum rates of inclusion, with oversampling considered. These discussions should inform site selection, and the practical challenges of recruitment and retention should not determine which groups are to be included. We also suggest five policy initiatives to support implementation of the recommendations. Broadly, these are (1) funders need to signal that ethnic diversity is expected, (2) trial teams need access to better data, (3) funders and others need to signal that ethnic diversity means better science, (4) more funding is needed for evaluation, and (5) Good Clinical Practice training should cover ethnic diversity. Agreeing targets for which ethnic groups to involve in a trial is essential but difficult. Our eight recommendations could help to make trials more ethnically diverse if followed, and we suggest five policy initiatives that would create a supportive environment for their implementation.

Socioeconomic deprivation and perinatal anxiety: an observational cohort study.

Women from areas of social deprivation and minority ethnic groups are more likely to experience poor physical health and have higher rates of mental health problems relative to women from less socially disadvantaged groups. However, very little research has examined this in relation to perinatal anxiety. The current study aims to determine prevalence, risk factors and desire for treatment for perinatal anxiety in three regions of the UK with diverse regional characteristics. Women completed measures of anxiety in early, mid-, late-pregnancy and postpartum. Participants were included from three regions of the UK: Region 1 = North East England & North Cumbria n = 512; Region 2 = London North Thames n = 665; Region 3 = West Midlands n = 705. Prevalence of perinatal anxiety was lower in Region 1 (OR 0.63 95% CI 0.45 to 0.89) and Region 2 (OR 0.72 95% CI 0.52 to 0.98) relative to Region 3. Analysis showed the effect of neighbourhood socioeconomic deprivation on perinatal anxiety differed by region. In more affluent regions, living in a deprived neighbourhood had a greater impact on perinatal anxiety than living in a deprived neighbourhood in a deprived region. Other factors associated with risk of anxiety in the perinatal period included physical health problems and identifying as being from 'mixed or multiple' ethnic groups. Neighbourhood deprivation relative to regional deprivation is a better predictor of perinatal anxiety than either regional deprivation or neighbourhood deprivation alone. Women of mixed ethnic backgrounds and women with physical health problems may warrant more attention in terms of screening and support for perinatal anxiety. Self-reported desire for treatment was found to be low.

Pandemic-Era Trends in US Automatic Payment Adoption: A 2022 Behavioral Analysis

Introduction: This study analyses the adoption trends of automated payment methods among different racial groups in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022. It investigates the correlations among financial literacy, risk attitudes, customer sentiment, and the adoption of automated payment mechanisms for bill settlements. Method: An analysis of responses from a diverse demographic is conducted using logistic regression on data from the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finance. This analysis investigates the trends associated with subjective and objective financial literacy, consumer sentiment as evaluated by economic perceptions, and risk attitudes among several generations, taking into account race as well. Results: Initial results suggest disparities in the degrees to which financial literacy, risk attitudes, and consumer sentiment are connected with adoption rates among various racial groups. The statistical analysis highlights disparities in the adoption of automated payments among different racial and ethnic groups. Discussion: The findings underscore the complex interplay among socio-economic status, behavioral variables, and technology adoption in the period after the pandemic. This methodology aligns with current scholarly works on behavioral finance, which emphasize the need to consider both individual psychological aspects and wider social impacts in the process of making financial decisions. By incorporating racial diversity into the research, the study provides a valuable understanding of how cultural and demographic factors interact with behavioral aspects in the particular setting of financial technology adoption during a time of substantial economic transformation.

Trends (2003–2020) in later-life sports participation among five ethnic groups in the Netherlands

Trends (2003–2020) in later-life sports participation among five ethnic groups in the Netherlands

The genetic landscape of Lynch syndrome in the Israeli population.

Deciphering the spectrum and founder disease-causing variants (DCVs) in specific populations can shape and facilitate the diagnostic process of Lynch Syndrome (LS). The aim of this report was to comprehensively update on the genetic landscape of LS in the ethnically diverse Israeli-Jewish population. The cohort included 1080 carriers from 588 families; some from underrepresented, understudied Israeli ethnic groups recruited from 8 genetic institutes and high-risk clinics throughout the country. Variant classification was performed according to the American College of Medical Genetics criteria. A total of 157 DCVs were identified, 12 are reported here for the first time, and 9 reclassified. MSH2 DCVs were identified in 286 families (49%). Most DCVs (125/157, 80%) were noted in one or two families only. Sixteen DCVs, each detected in ≥ 5 families, and accounted for LS in 378/588 (64%) families. Constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD) was diagnosed in 7 families. Twenty-five carriers (2.3%) had an additional DCV or risk alleles in another cancer susceptibility gene. In conclusion, MMR gene variant distribution in Israel is diverse. MSH2 is most commonly mutated due to founder DCVs. Though the 16 prevalent LS-associated DCVs were frequently detected in our cohort, none of them is frequently reported in the general population. These data should facilitate variant interpretation, spouse and cascade testing.

A prospective multicenter birth cohort in China: pregnancy health atlas.

The China Prospective Multi-Center Birth Cohort Study was launched in 2022. In collaboration with medical centers in 12 cities, it aims to establish a high-quality, multidimensional cohort comprising 20,000 natural pregnancy and assisted reproductive families. As of June 26, 2024, 12,911 pregnant women have participated in this study, and 161,122 biological samples have been collected. These samples cover four critical periods (early pregnancy, mid-pregnancy, late pregnancy, and postpartum) and comprise 10 different types such as serum, plasma, and urine. The study has collected comprehensive information from early pregnancy to newborns. The participants have an average age of 29.76years, an average height of 160.46cm, an average pre-pregnancy BMI of 23.11, and an average BMI of 27.25 before delivery. The cohort includes individuals from 26 ethnic groups, with 25 minority groups comprising 5.03% of the population. Guizhou Province exhibits the highest percentage of ethnic minorities at 24.96% and Guangdong Province owns the highest proportion (12.22%)of women with two or more children. The prevalence of thalassemia in Guangdong Province is seven times higher than in other provinces. Among pregnant women over 35years old, the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus is twice that of women under 35. Additionally, the prevalence of preeclampsia in women with assisted reproductive pregnancies is more than twice that of those with natural pregnancies. The study extensively collected diverse data and biological samples, making this cohort an ideal candidate for DOHaD field and multi-omics research.

Pokłosie powstania 1863–1864 r.: nieortodoksyjna refleksja

Today, in Lithuanian, Polish, Belarusian and even Ukrainian society, the January Uprising has become a symbol of the ‚ fight for freedom’. This article attempts to answer the question: did/do Polish, Lithuanian, Belarusian and Jewish societies really have anything to glorify? In other words, from the perspective of nineteenth and early twentieth century nationalisms (and therefore not from an academic perspective), was the uprising in any way useful to them? Or to put it another way, did it do more good or harm? For all non-dominant ethnic groups, the uprising brought new repression and discrimination (although sometimes discrimination against one group objectively benefited another group), and with the exception of the Poles, it is difficult to see the impact of this historical event as a positive image in the process of nationalising the masses until World War One. The fact that such an image was created later is simply an‚ invented tradition’. The fact that a positive image of the uprising was ‚invented’ later in Lithuanian or Belarusian societies does not mean that it did not (or does not now) influence the mobilisation of the masses, but it is not a direct consequence of the uprising, but a narrative constructed by later generations.

Reaching people who use drugs with sexual and reproductive healthcare through syringe services programs: potential promise and missed opportunities.

People who use drugs are at elevated sexual and reproductive health risk but experience barriers to services. Syringe services programs (SSP) are an important venue to provide integrated health services. Few studies have examined SSP use within intersecting gender, racial, and ethnic groups, including by injection drug use (IDU), and differences in sexual and reproductive health among these groups. Within a cohort study among people who use unprescribed opioids in New York City, we conducted a nested cross-sectional study from November 2021-August 2022 assessing sexual health with a survey (n = 120). The parent study measured baseline characteristics, and the cross-sectional study survey measured self-reported past-year SSP use and sexual and reproductive health. We estimated SSP use within gender, racial, and ethnic groups by IDU, and the prevalence of sexual and reproductive health outcomes by gender, race, ethnicity, and SSP use. Among men (n = 61) and women (n = 54), SSP use was disproportionately low among Black participants irrespective of IDU. Women reporting SSP use had a higher prevalence of multiple, new, sex trade, and/or casual sex partners, history of STI symptoms, and lack of effective STI prevention, although women who did not use SSP had non-negligible levels of risk with variation between racial and ethnic groups. Among men, sexual and reproductive health varied across racial and ethnic groups but not as clearly by SSP use. SSP offer opportunity to address elevated STI risk among people who use drugs but may miss certain intersecting gender, race, and ethnic groups.

Development and Refinement of a Chatbot for Birthing Individuals and Newborn Caregivers: Mixed Methods Study.

The 42 days after delivery ("fourth trimester") are a high-risk period for birthing individuals and newborns, especially those who are racially and ethnically marginalized due to structural racism. To fill a gap in the critical "fourth trimester," we developed 2 ruled-based chatbots-one for birthing individuals and one for newborn caregivers-that provided trusted information about postbirth warning signs and newborn care and connected patients with health care providers. A total of 4370 individuals received the newborn chatbot outreach between September 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023, and 3497 individuals received the postpartum chatbot outreach between November 16, 2022, and December 31, 2023. We conducted surveys and interviews in English and Spanish to understand the acceptability and usability of the chatbot and identify areas for improvement. We sampled from hospital discharge lists that distributed the chatbot, stratified by prenatal care location, age, type of insurance, and racial and ethnic group. We analyzed quantitative results using descriptive analyses in SPSS (IBM Corp) and qualitative results using deductive coding in Dedoose (SocioCultural Research Consultants). Overall, 2748 (63%) individuals opened the newborn chatbot messaging, and 2244 (64%) individuals opened the postpartum chatbot messaging. A total of 100 patients engaged with the chatbot and provided survey feedback; of those, 40% (n=40) identified as Black, 27% (n=27) identified as Hispanic/Latina, and 18% (n=18) completed the survey in Spanish. Payer distribution was 55% (n=55) for individuals with public insurance, 39% (n=39) for those with commercial insurance, and 2% (n=2) for uninsured individuals. The majority of surveyed participants indicated that chatbot messaging was timely and easy to use (n=80, 80%) and found the reminders to schedule the newborn visit (n=59, 59%) and postpartum visit (n=66, 66%) useful. Across 23 interviews (n=14, 61% Black; n=4, 17% Hispanic/Latina; n=2, 9% in Spanish; n=11, 48% public insurance), 78% (n=18) of interviewees engaged with the chatbot. Interviewees provided positive feedback on usability and content and recommendations for improving the outreach messages. Chatbots are a promising strategy to reach birthing individuals and newborn caregivers with information about postpartum recovery and newborn care, but intentional outreach and engagement strategies are needed to optimize interaction. Future work should measure the chatbot's impact on health outcomes and reduce disparities.

A screen-and-treat strategy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori among patients with family history of gastric cancer in a diverse U.S. population.

Screening and eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) reduce the risk of gastric cancer in patients with family history. We assessed patient perspectives on H. pylori screening and treatment within a diverse regional U.S. Between July and August 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional study among patients with ≥1 first-degree relative with gastric cancer. Eligible patients were between 18-75 years of age without history of H. pylori infection or gastric cancer. A survey assessed interest in testing and willingness to complete treatment for H. pylori. Interested patients were offered H. pylori testing and treatment. We examined interest and effectiveness of treatment by race and ethnicity. We identified 15,255 eligible patients and 1,500 patients were randomly selected for the survey; 280 (19%) patients, including 2 relatives not initially invited but asked to participate, responded following outreach. Respondents were 65% male and averaged 57 years (SD=13) with 36% Hispanic, 36% non-Hispanic White, 15% Asian/Pacific Islander, 9% non-Hispanic Black. Overall, 223 (80%) were interested in H. pylori screening; of these, 89% would take antibiotics as prescribed. Willingness to screen was consistent across racial and ethnic groups. Among 223 respondents interested in screening, 128 (57%) completed testing with 15 screen-detected cases; all 15 completed treatment and 11 had confirmed eradication. Patients with family history of gastric cancer had a high level of interest in H. pylori screening and successful eradication when detected. A screen-and-treat strategy for H. pylori may be considered for patients with family history of gastric cancer.

How Right Now/Qué Hacer Ahora: Findings from an evaluation of a national mental health and coping campaign amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond its physical health impact, the COVID-19 pandemic also resulted in grief from loss of loved ones, isolation due to social distancing, stress, fear, and economic distress-all of which impacted mental health. How Right Now/Qué Hacer Ahora (HRN) is an award-winning, national campaign that provides emotional support to people disproportionately affected by COVID-19. We conducted a theory-based, culturally responsive evaluation to assess the campaign's effect on coping behaviors and resiliency between summer 2020 and spring 2021. We surveyed HRN's priority audiences (older adults/caregivers and those with preexisting health conditions, experiencing violence, or economic distress) in English and Spanish using NORC's national probability panel, AmeriSpeak, over three waves. We also analyzed social media data and monitored HRN website traffic and triangulated these data to understand the campaign's full impact. Campaign exposure was associated with people who were experiencing higher levels of stress and were more likely to seek information to support their emotional well-being. Campaign exposure was also positively associated with increased feelings of resilience and confidence in using coping strategies, especially for people experiencing violence or economic distress and people from racial and ethnic groups. Findings demonstrate the campaign's success in reaching its intended audiences with the mental health support they needed. Additionally, the HRN evaluation's design illustrates how the use of multiple data sources can elucidate a deeper understanding of campaign impact. Findings underscore that culturally responsive health communication interventions-like HRN-can provide needed mental health support and resources to disproportionately affected communities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Democracy in Local Communities: Direct Election System versus Deliberation System in the Minangkabau Ethnicity in West Sumatra, Indonesia

This paper focuses on the dissonance between the values of the democracy of local communities and the liberal democracy of the Minangkabau community in West Sumatra, Indonesia. A direct election system is adopted to elect the leader of the Minangkabau community. However, a qualitative study shows that, culturally, the Minangkabau community chooses its leader through a clan-based deliberation system, relying on communal rather than individual representation. Adopting direct election with the one-person-one- vote principle to elect the community leader has instead been a source of conflict. The ambiguous understanding of the community members regarding the principles of individual and collective representation has given rise to the conflict. The institutionalisation of a clan-based deliberation system in the community is a solution to solve the conflict. This scholarly inquiry underscores that the Minangkabau ethnic group's democratic ethos fosters an environment conducive to communal deliberations, thereby sustaining their social cohesion and integration.

BS SO20 - The impact of Ethnicity and Social Deprivation on Weight Loss following Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

Abstract Background Long-term weight loss and weight regain are markers of success following bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences amongst various ethnic and social deprivation groups in terms of weight loss following Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) at 24 months post-surgery. Method Data from a single high-volume UK Bariatric centre (Luton & Dunstable Hospital) were analysed. Relevant variables such as patient demographics, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) at surgery, were included. Failure to lose sufficient weight was defined as failure to lose ³20% TBWL at 24 months post-surgery. Results A total of 1,427 patients underwent RYGB during this time, of whom 80.2% were female. The median age was 48 years old (IQR: 39-55) and the median BMI was 44.7Kg/m2 (IQR: 40.6-50.1). At 24 months post-surgery, 39.3% of patients had failed to lose 20% TBWL. Multivariable analyses demonstrated that the most socially deprived patients were less likely to achieve a TBWL of ³20% at 24 months post-surgery (OR: 0.71 95% CI: 0.56-0.89, p=0.023) as were those from Black (OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.50-0.83, p=0.019) and Asian backgrounds (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.61-0.88, p=0.013) compared to patients from a White background. Conclusion Ethnicity and social deprivation serve as key indicators of predicting weight loss at 24 months following bariatric surgery. These findings suggest the possible need for tailored care and treatment strategies to optimise long-term outcomes for diverse populations. Understanding these differences is crucial for developing personalized treatment plans and improving the efficacy of bariatric surgery across various ethnic groups. Future research should focus on identifying the underlying causes of these disparities and evaluating interventions to mitigate them.

Outcomes of a mentoring scheme to improve career engagement in academia among students from minority ethnic groups

IntroductionStudent mentorship in higher education institutions is often advocated as a way to improve opportunities for students from minority ethnic groups.MethodsThis study examines this further by applying a linear regression model to explore the relationship between a 6-month pilot mentoring scheme at King's College London and career engagement in academia for students from minority ethnic groups, by investigating whether there were differential impacts by ethnic group, and by degree of exposure to mentoring, measured by the number and mode of mentoring sessions i.e., online, in-person or bimodal (a combination of online and in-person).ResultsThe results reveal that while there were no significant differences in career engagement between Asian and Black students, there were significant differences in career engagement between Black students and students who identified as Mixed or Other. Surprisingly, the number of sessions was negatively related to career engagement. However, the positive, significant interaction effect between the number and mode of sessions suggests that this relationship varies based on the mode of the sessions, with bimodal sessions leading to an increase in career engagement, in contrast to solely in-person sessions which led to a decrease in career engagement in academia.ConclusionThe results from this study point to some differential effects of mentoring by ethnic group, with Black students experiencing less gains in terms of career engagement in academia, relative to students who identified as Mixed or Other ethnic groups. This suggests that Black students may need more tailored support, in-depth mentoring or better-matched role models for improved outcomes.

Not Indian, Not African: Classifying the East African Asian Population in Aotearoa New Zealand

This paper explores the challenges of measuring and classifying the East African Asian population in Aotearoa New Zealand. As a particularly diverse country, New Zealand has a significant and varied population of immigrants from South Asia, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, along with immigrants of South Asian origin, from Fiji, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and East Africa. New Zealand’s system of ethnic classification relies on self-identification, with a broad definition of ethnicity encompassing heritage, ancestry, culture, language and feelings of belonging. However, the collection of this information at a granularity that enables detailed analysis is constrained for the South Asian population, regardless of origin or identification. People are typically presented with the choice of selecting “Indian” ethnicity as a tick box, or providing ethnicities under “Other” as write-in descriptors, which in turn are coded to a limited set of categories within the classification being used. This practice potentially conceals a diversity of ethnicities, which can only partially be hinted at by responses to questions relating to religions, languages and birthplaces, especially for second or third-generation descendants of migrants. Ethnic classification at the highest level, moreover, includes East African Indians as Asian, rather than African, reflecting diasporic heritage as a shorthand for ancestry and overlooking the relevance of layers of identity associated with the double diaspora. Drawing on Peter J. Aspinall’s work on collective terminology in ethnic data collection and categorizing the “Asian” ethnic group in the UK, this paper looks at the overlaps and disconnects between heritage, ethnicity and national belonging in classifying less clearcut identities. We explore the strengths and limitations of New Zealand’s self-identification approach to ethnic identity, and query what exactly is being asked of groups on the margins: when self-identification does not match external perception, are we looking for geographic, cultural, or genetic origins? A focus on the East African Asian population in Aotearoa highlights the complexity of identity for diasporic groups with distant ancestral links with India, as lived experience of cultural connection extends far beyond the bounds of ethnicity, language and even ancestry.