Ethnic Minority Adolescents Research Articles

Self-Esteem and Ethnic and National Identification among Adolescents in the Netherlands

ABSTRACT The great majority of studies on the self-esteem of ethnic minority youth has been conducted in the United States, has focused on global personal self-esteem only, and has not considered the issue of dual group identity. Using a two-dimensional perspective we examined ethnic and national identification and its relationship to global self-esteem and self-evaluation in six separate domains. Analyses of data collected in the Netherlands showed that for ethnic minority group adolescents, ethnic identification and national identification were independent of one another. In addition, ethnic identification was positively related to self-esteem whereas national identification was not. Furthermore, compared to the Dutch, ethnic minorities had similar levels of self-esteem and domain specific self-evaluations. Among all groups, physical appearance was clearly the most important predictor of global self-esteem. The results support a two-dimensional conceptualisation of identification for ethnic minority adolescents. The paper also argues that studies on self-esteem should examine different domains of self-evaluation in addition to global self-esteem. Furthermore, the results suggest that not only ethnocultural factors, but also more general factors are important for shaping self-evaluation among adolescents.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy with ethnic minority adolescents: Therapist perspectives

Examination of the mental health needs and services for ethnic minority adolescents has been woefully neglected. The present article summarizes the current literature on the mental health status of ethnic minority adolescents, discusses the applicability of cognitive-behavioral treatment interventions with ethnic minority adolescents, and presents data from a survey of cognitive-behavioral therapists who provided services to adolescents. Results from the survey indicated that although most therapists consider adolescent client ethnicity during the various phases of the therapy process, they typically do not directly address ethnicity or ethnic differences in therapy sessions unless it is clearly part of the presenting problem. Education on techniques for incorporating cultural factors into therapy is suggested for new therapists as well as for more seasoned clinicians. Specific recommendations are offered for conducting culturally sensitive cognitive-behavioral therapy with ethnic minority adolescents.

Cognitive-behavior therapy for ethnic minority adolescents: Broadening our perspectives

Adolescents are a burgeoning, and sometimes challenging, section of the population. In addition, a reality for cognitive-behavior therapists is the rapidly increasing culturally diverse client base. While cognitive-behavioral procedures have been shown to be effective for a variety of problems experienced by adolescents, these treatments often lack consideration of the role of ethnicity in adolescent development and mental health problems. Thus, the increasing number of both ethnic minority and adolescent populations in combination with the challenges involved in providing treatment to these populations emphasize the need for efforts to improve the relevance and effectiveness of cognitive-behavior therapy with ethnic minority adolescents. This article discusses the complexity of the developmental and cultural context of treating ethnic minority adolescents and the utility of cognitive-behavioral procedures for providing a strong basis for advancing our treatment efforts.

Cultural identity and psychological adjustment of adolescent Chinese immigrants in New Zealand

Based on an integration of acculturation and developmental models, this study examined the relationship between psychological adjustment and cultural identity determined by the relative strength of identification with own ethnic group, and the mainstream society. Over 400 immigrant Chinese students completed questionnaires and 24 participated in interviews. Results indicated that adolescents who were integrated had higher self-esteem than their peers who were separated or marginalizedp <0·001). This finding is consistent with research on ethnic minority adolescents in other countries, and suggests that integration has important implications on the psychological well-being of these adolescent immigrants.

Anxiety in ethnic minority youth. Methodological and conceptual issues and review of the literature.

Although current research has documented a relatively high prevalence of anxiety disorders in American youth, this research has been conducted mainly with nonminority samples. Fair treatment and increasing numbers of ethnic minority persons in the United States require that more should be known about minority youth. However, research with majority youth cannot be safely generalized to minority youth for several reasons, such as potential differences in the manifestation of anxiety, differences in style of response to assessment devices, and different life circumstances. This review is presented in two major sections. First, the authors address definition of terms and fully examine the significance of studying anxiety in ethnic minority youth. Also considered are methodological issues such as sampling and participation biases. Second, the authors review anxiety in ethnic minority children and adolescents in the United States including studies addressing fears, worries, trait anxiety, test anxiety, and anxiety disorders.

The Allocation of Family Responsibility for Asthma Management Tasks in African-American Adolescents

The allocation of responsibilities for asthma management within African-American families was examined in 60 adolescents and their primary caretakers. Separate structured interviews were conducted with adolescents and primary caretakers, and perceptions of family management, adherence to asthma treatment regimen, and functional morbidity were assessed. Support for the primary hypothesis that higher levels of nonadherence and functional morbidity would be observed in families where caretakers overestimated the level of adolescent involvement in asthma self-care was found. Implications for family-based asthma management in ethnic minority adolescents are discussed.

Of Jewel Heritage: racial socialization and racial identity attitudes amongst adolescents of mixed African–Caribbean/White parentage

Mixed parentage adolescents form an increasing proportion of ethnic minority adolescents in Britain. Few studies have investigated their views and perceptions of their racial identity in terms of their Black heritage. This exploratory study investigated their attitudes towards Blackness, and examined the relationship that this might have with their reported experiences of racial socialization as well as with their self-esteem. Older adolescents were more likely to have positive racial identity attitudes, and a positive relationship was found between racial identity attitudes and self-esteem. Reported frequency of certain types of racial socialization messages increased with age. This was especially pronounced with messages relating to the development of racial pride and messages relating to issues around racism. Those adolescents who lived with both parents reported receiving more proactive racial socialization messages. Tentative conclusions include the possibility that dual identification and multicultural environments are associated with a positive sense of racial identity. These issues need to be investigated further.

Perceived Discrimination and Self-Esteem Among Ethnic Minority Adolescents

In a sample of ethnic minority adolescents in The Netherlands, the relationship between perceived discrimination and self-esteem was investigated. First, the participants perceived a higher level of discrimination directed at their group as a whole than at themselves as individuals. Second, personal self-esteem was relatively independent of group self-esteem. Third, perceived personal discrimination was related to personal self-esteem, and perceived group discrimination was related to group self-esteem. A path model showed 2 pathways to personal self-esteem. In the 1st path, group discrimination had a negative effect on ethnic self-esteem, which, in turn, was related to personal self-esteem. In the 2nd path, perceived personal discrimination had a direct negative effect on personal self-esteem as well as an indirect negative effect stemming from reduced sense of control.

Prediction of Major Depression and Dysthymia From CES-D Scores Among Ethnic Minority Adolescents

The Native Hawaiian Mental Health Research Development Program is an epidemiological longitudinal study of adolescents residing in Hawaii. This article examines the utility of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) for predicting DSM-III-R diagnoses of major depression (MD) and dysthymic disorder (DD) and investigates whether prediction differs by gender and ethnicity. Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children interviews were conducted with 556 adolescents randomly selected from among more than 7,000 students who had completed the CES-D. Six-month prevalence rates were as follows: MD = 8.5%, DD = 4.7%, either (MDDD) = 9.9%. Prevalence rates were significantly higher among females, but after CES-D scores were accounted for, gender no longer predicted depression in most analyses. When a cutoff score of 16 was used, classification accuracy was lower for Native Hawaiians than non-Hawaiians. However, after group differences in gender and grade level were accounted for, the predictive validity of the CES-D did not differ by ethnicity. CES-D factor 1 scores identified MD, DD, and MDDD about as well as the total score or all three factors together. These results support the validity of the CES-D for screening for depression among adolescents of Native Hawaiian and other minority backgrounds.

Impact of Adolescents' Perceived Self-Regulatory Efficacy on Familial Communication and Antisocial Conduct

The present study tested the hypothesis that perceived self-efficacy to resist peer pressure for high-risk activities is related to transgressive con- duct, both directly and through the mediation of open familial communi- cation. Adolescents rated their self-regulatory efficacy, openness of com- munication with parents, and their involvement in delinquent conduct and substance abuse. Results of structural equation modeling confirmed that a high sense of efficacy to ward off negative peer influences was accompanied by open communication with parents about activities out-

Intergroup Attitudes among Ethnic Minority Adolescents: A Causal Model

Intergroup Attitudes among Ethnic Minority Adolescents: A Causal Model

Intergroup Attitudes among Ethnic Minority Adolescents: A Causal Model.

To examine the influence of ethnic idenilty and intergroup contact on adolescents' attitudes toward other ethnic groups, we studied eighth and eleventh graders from 2 predominantly non-white school districts. Surveys completed by 547 adolescents from 3 ethnic groups (133 African Americans, 219 Latinos, and 195 Asian Americans) assessed in-group and out-group attitudes, out-group interaction, out-group contact, and ethnic identity. A causal model suggested 2 pathways leading to positive out-group attitudes. In one pathway, ethnic identity increased with age and predicted positive in-group attitudes; these attitudes contributed to positive out-group attitudes. In a separate pathway, ethnic diversity outside of schcool led to more out-group interaction in school, which in turn predicted positive out-group attitudes. The results support developmental and multiculturalism views of intergroup relations.

Screening for substance use among ethnic minority adolescents: Patterns and prevention approaches

The purpose of this study was to determine if differences exist in the patterns of drug use between adolescent ethnic minorities from African American, Asian, Hispanic, and Native American backgrounds through the use of the Adolescent Substance Battery. The clinical use of the ASB has been used to evaluate and monitor adolescents who are suspected of drug abuse. To evaluate these differences systematically, a sample of 152 ethnic minority adolescent diagnostic assessments were analyzed. Gender differences were found, as 64% of the sample were males and 36% were females. Ethnic differences were found, as 56% of the sample were African American, and 75% of these were males. A total of 60 adolescents, or 39% of the sample, was diagnosed as chemically dependent. The analysis of substance use by ethnic minorities would appear to be helpful in developing ethnic‐ and gender‐specific prevention, intervention, and treatment programs.

Supporting Achievement Beliefs Among Ethnic Minority Adolescents: Two Case Examples

We investigated a group counseling class and a remedial math class in a junior high school. Measures of adolescents' (N = 47) perceived competence and intrinsic motivation combined with teacher interviews comprised the data sources. Using a social-cognitive framework, the analyses identified program characteristics and teacher beliefs and practices in each classroom that supported perceived competence and intrinsic motivation among adolescents. Differences in levels of intrinsic motivation and competence beliefs among adolescents in the 2 classrooms were accompanied by differences in teachers' instructional and disciplinary strategies and their underlying beliefs. Program characteristics also differed. Results are discussed in terms of cognitive mediators of motivation, tracking effects, and the unique educational needs of adolescent learners who are at risk for school failure.

Variations in Bicultural Identification Among African American and Mexican American Adolescents

To identify the ways in which minority adolescents deal with being part of two cultures, we studied 46 middle- and working-class Mexican American and 52 middle-class African American students from ethnically diverse high schools in Southern California. Participants were interviewed about their sense of being ethnic, American, and bicultural, and they also completed questionnaire measures of ethnic identity, American identity, other-group attitudes, self-concept, and anxiety. Qualitative analysis of the interviews revealed three types of identification patterns: blended biculturals, alternating biculturals, and separated adolescents. Scores on American identity and other-group attitudes differed significantly among the identification patterns. Ethnic and American identity were generally uncorrelated, supporting the multidimensional (vs. linear) view of being bicultural. The results illustrate the varied types of identification manifested by ethnic minority adolescents in relation to their two reference gro...

Working with Culture: Psychotherapeutic Interventions with Ethnic Minority Children and Adolescents.

Working with Culture: Psychotherapeutic Interventions with Ethnic Minority Children and Adolescents.

Working with Culture: Psychotherapeutic Interventions with Ethnic Minority Children and Adolescents.

Working with Culture: Psychotherapeutic Interventions with Ethnic Minority Children and Adolescents.

Working With Culture: Psychotherapeutic Interventions With Ethnic Minority Children and Adolescents

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article ArticleNo AccessWorking With Culture: Psychotherapeutic Interventions With Ethnic Minority Children and AdolescentsPEDRO RUIZPEDRO RUIZSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:1 Apr 2006https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.151.9.1390-aAboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail "Working With Culture: Psychotherapeutic Interventions With Ethnic Minority Children and Adolescents." American Journal of Psychiatry, 151(9), pp. 1390-a–1391 Access content To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access. Personal login Institutional Login Sign in via OpenAthens Purchase Save for later Item saved, go to cart PPV Articles - American Journal of Psychiatry $35.00 Add to cart PPV Articles - American Journal of Psychiatry Checkout Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability. Not a subscriber? Subscribe Now / Learn More PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development. Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.). FiguresReferencesCited byDetailsCited byNone Volume 151Issue 9 September 1994Pages 1390-a-1391 Metrics PDF download History Published online 1 April 2006 Published in print 1 September 1994

Mental health and help-seeking among ethnic minority adolescents

Survey data are reported on the mental health status and professional help-seeking behavior of adolescents predominantly representing a sample of lower SES, ethnic minority backgrounds. Contrary to popular stereotypes, the sample's mental health status was found to be similar to findings from samples from non-minority backgrounds. Despite evident need for help, respondents indicated low utilization of services. Among those who did use professional help, school-based sources and medical personnel were used most often. Of factors examined as potential predictors of help-seeking, cognitive—affective factors were accounted for a small, yet significant amount of the variance. The findings highlight the importance of studying within-group differences to avoid perpetuating incorrect generalizations related to persons from low SES and ethnic minority backgrounds.

Book Review: IV. Ministry Studies: Working with Culture: Psychotherapeutic Interventions with Ethnic Minority Children and Adolescents

Book Review: IV. Ministry Studies: Working with Culture: Psychotherapeutic Interventions with Ethnic Minority Children and Adolescents