Ethnic Minority Status Research Articles

Associations between Experiences of Police Contact and Discrimination by the Police and Courts and Health Outcomes in a Representative Sample of Adults in New York City

Communities marginalized because of racism, heterosexism, and other systems of oppression have a history of being aggressively policed, and in those contexts, researchers have observed associations between a range of negative experiences with police and poor physical, mental, and behavioral health outcomes. However, past studies have been limited in that experiences of police contacts were aggregated at the neighborhood level and, if police contacts were self-reported, the sample was not representative. To address these limitations, we employed NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 2017 Social Determinants of Health Survey (n = 2335) data to examine the associations of self-reported police contacts and discrimination by police and the courts with measures of physical (poor physical health), mental (poor mental health, serious psychological distress), and behavioral health (binge drinking). Residents marginalized because of racial, ethnic, and sexual minority status were more likely to be stopped, searched, or questioned by the police; threatened or abused by the police; and discriminated against by the police or in the courts; those experiences were associated with poor physical, mental, and behavioral health outcomes. The associations between experiences with police and poor health outcomes were strongest among Black residents and residents aged 25–44. Our findings suggest that the health of NYC residents who have had exposure to police and experienced discrimination by the police and courts is poorer than those who have not, and build on a growing body of evidence that aggressive policing practices have implications for public health.

The relation between satisfaction with appearance and race and ethnicity: A National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research burn model system study

Research supports that people of color in the U.S. have poorer outcomes after burn injury compared to White individuals. The current study sought to explore burn health disparities by testing the relationship between racial and ethnic minority status, a proxy for systemic discrimination due to race and ethnicity, with two key constructs linked to functional outcomes, satisfaction with appearance and social community integration. Participants included 1318 burn survivors from the Burn Model System National Database (mean age = 40.2, SD = 12.7). Participants completed measures of satisfaction with appearance and social community integration at baseline, 6-, 12-, and 24-months after burn injury. Linear regressions revealed that racial and ethnic minority status significantly related to lower satisfaction with appearance and social community integration compared to White individuals at all time points. In addition, satisfaction with appearance continued to significantly relate to greater social community integration even while accounting for race and ethnicity, age, sex, burn size, and physical disability at 6-, 12-, and 24-month time points. Overall, the study supports that racial and ethnic minority burn survivors report greater dissatisfaction with their appearance and lower social community reintegration after burn injury.

Ethnic minority status as social determinant for COVID-19 infection, hospitalisation, severity, ICU admission and deaths in the early phase of the pandemic: a meta-analysis

IntroductionEarly literature on the COVID-19 pandemic indicated striking ethnic inequalities in SARS-CoV-2-related outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to describe the presence and magnitude of associations between ethnic groups...

The integrative model of family stress underlying Spanish and English vocabulary development in Mexican American children: Unique effects of financial and sociocultural hardships.

Early oral language development lays an essential foundation for academic and socioemotional competencies but is vulnerable to the impact of family stress. Despite robust evidence that family stress affects early oral language development in monolingual samples, little is known about whether the family stress processes affecting language acquisition are similar among dual language learners. Furthermore, although Mexican American families often face stressors related to their ethnic minority and immigrant status, no studies to date have tested whether exposure to sociocultural stressors may likewise have negative consequences for early language acquisition. The present study examined whether financial and sociocultural stressors were associated with maternal stress perception, parenting sensitivity, and child Spanish and English receptive vocabulary at child age 3 and 4.5 years. Participants included 322 low-income Mexican American mothers and their children followed from pregnancy through 4.5 years postnatal; most mothers preferred to speak Spanish (82%). Results of a path model indicated that links between family stress and child receptive vocabulary varied by language (Spanish or English) and stress type (financial or cultural). Specifically, Spanish acquisition was more closely related to the quality of mother-child interactions, whereas English acquisition was more susceptible to the direct impact of family stress. The consequences of family stress on children's vocabulary acquisition were evident earlier in development for Spanish than English, and appeared more pronounced for financial versus sociocultural stressors. Findings underscore a need to attend to the impact of poverty on children's Spanish and English language development in low-income, Mexican American children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

A Rapid Systematic Review of Factors Influencing COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake in Minority Ethnic Groups in the UK.

COVID-19 has disproportionately affected minority ethnic groups in the United Kingdom. To maximise the effectiveness of the vaccination programme, it is important to understand and address disparities in vaccine uptake. The aim of this review was to identify factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination uptake between minority ethnic groups in the UK. A search was undertaken in peer-reviewed databases, polling websites and grey literature from January 2020–May 2021. Studies were included if they reported data on vaccine uptake or the reasons for or against accepting the COVID-19 vaccination for minority ethnic groups in the UK. Twenty-one papers met the inclusion criteria, all of which were rated as either good or moderate quality. Ethnic minority status was associated with higher vaccine hesitancy and lower vaccine uptake compared with White British groups. Barriers included pre-existing mistrust of formal services, lack of information about the vaccine’s safety, misinformation, inaccessible communications, and logistical issues. Facilitators included inclusive communications which address vaccine concerns via trusted communicators and increased visibility of minority ethnic groups in the media. Community engagement to address the concerns and informational needs of minority ethnic groups using trusted and collaborative community and healthcare networks is likely to increase vaccine equity and uptake.

26.2 Low Family Income from Fetal Life Onward and Child Brain Morphology: Differential Impact by Ethnic Minority and Majority Status in a Population-Based Study

26.2 Low Family Income from Fetal Life Onward and Child Brain Morphology: Differential Impact by Ethnic Minority and Majority Status in a Population-Based Study

Disparities in cancer prevalence, incidence, and mortality for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated patients: A scoping review.

BackgroundRacial and ethnic minority status, structural racism, low educational attainment, and poverty are consistently associated with cancer disparities and with higher rates of incarceration. The objective of this scoping review is to conduct a qualitative synthesis of the literature on cancer prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disparities in these outcomes for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated patients, as this literature is fragmented and heterogenous.MethodsThis scoping review included Bureau of Justice Statistics reports and searched PubMed in May 2021 for all English language studies published between 1990 and 30 April 2021, that reported on cancer prevalence, incidence, or mortality for incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals in the United States.ResultsTwenty studies were selected. Data on cancer prevalence and incidence were scarce but suggested that incarcerated and formerly incarcerated patients have a similar overall risk of cancer diagnosis as the general population, but elevated risk of certain cancers such as cervical, lung, colorectal, and hepatocellular carcinoma for which effective prevention and screening interventions exist. Cancer mortality data in state and local jails as well as prisons were robust and suggests that both incarcerated and formerly incarcerated patients have higher cancer mortality than the general population.ConclusionsIncarcerated and formerly incarcerated patients likely have a higher risk of dying from cancer than the general population, but important gaps in our knowledge about the extent and drivers of disparities for this population remain. Additional research is needed to guide interventions to reduce cancer disparities for patients experiencing incarceration.

The Kashubian language: analysis of the sociolinguistic situation

In this paper, the author presents the language situation of the Kashubian community, and in particular the role of the Kashubian language as the main indicator of the Kashubian identity. Nowadays, the role of the Kashubian language is primarily symbolic: it is used as an everyday communication tool less and less frequently. Despite that, literature is written in this language, each education level is available: from primary school to studies of Kashubian ethnophilology at the University of Gdańsk. The author has depicted the sociolinguistic situation of the Kashubian language, i.e. the regional language in Kashubia, and presented the results of the national censuses carried out in the 21st century and their consequences for the Kashubian community, which does not have the offi cial status of either ethnic or national minority. She has also briefl y described the Polish state policy towards ethnic/national and language minorities.

A-105 Perceived Workload and Depression on the Rey 15-Item Recall and Recognition Test: The Impact of Ethnicity and Brain Injury

Abstract Introduction We examined the impact of perceived workload and depressive symptoms on Rey-15 plus recognition (RMT) in ethnic minority participants with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods The sample consisted of 63 healthy comparison [HC: 38 with ethnic minority status (EM) & 25 non-ethnic minority Caucasian (NEM)] participants and 40 persons with TBI (18 EM; 22 NEM). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to measure depressive symptoms (HADS-D) and the NASA-Task Load Index (NASA TLX) to measure perceived workload. Results ANCOVAs revealed that NEM outperformed EM on the RMT, p = 0.000, ηp2 = 0.37. TBI survivors reported higher levels of HADS-D compared to HC participants, p = 0.018, ηp2 = 0.06. Additionally, the EM group reported higher levels of frustration on the RMT compared to NEMs, p = 0.033, ηp2 = 0.05. Interactions emerged for physical demand where NEM participant’s with TBI had higher ratings than EM participants with TBI. For HCs, the EM participants provided higher physical demand ratings than their NEM counterparts, p = 0.029, ηp2 = 0.05. Additionally, a significant relationship between HADS-D and RMT was observed in the healthy NEM participants (r = −0.558, p = 0.004) and NEM participants with TBI (r = −0.288, p = 0.080). Finally, significant relationships between HADS-D and mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, frustration, and overall subjective workload were observed in healthy EM participants, r = 0.342–0.431, p < 0.05. Conclusion Consistent with previous research, TBI survivors reported higher levels of depressive symptoms, which were associated with RMT performances. Overall, our data suggest the relationship between perceived workload, depression, and performance is complex and that investigators should interpret performance validity scores in person with TBI, depression, and/or EM status with great care.

Disentangling heterogeneity of psychosis expression in the general population: sex-specific moderation effects of environmental risk factors on symptom networks.

Psychosis expression in the general population may reflect a behavioral manifestation of the risk for psychotic disorder. It can be conceptualized as an interconnected system of psychotic and affective experiences; a so-called 'symptom network'. Differences in demographics, as well as exposure to adversities and risk factors, may produce substantial heterogeneity in symptom networks, highlighting potential etiological divergence in psychosis risk. To explore this idea in a data-driven way, we employed a novel recursive partitioning approach in the 2007 English National Survey of Psychiatric Morbidity (N = 7242). We sought to identify 'network phenotypes' by explaining heterogeneity in symptom networks through potential moderators, including age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation, childhood abuse, separation from parents, bullying, domestic violence, cannabis use, and alcohol. Sex was the primary source of heterogeneity in symptom networks. Additional heterogeneity was explained by interpersonal trauma (childhood abuse and domestic violence) in women and domestic violence, cannabis use, ethnicity in men. Among women, especially those exposed to early interpersonal trauma, an affective loading within psychosis may have distinct relevance. Men, particularly those from minority ethnic groups, demonstrated a strong network connection between hallucinatory experiences and persecutory ideation. Symptom networks of psychosis expression in the general population are highly heterogeneous. The structure of symptom networks seems to reflect distinct sex-related adversities, etiologies, and mechanisms of symptom-expression. Disentangling the complex interplay of sex, minority ethnic group status, and other risk factors may help optimize early intervention and prevention strategies in psychosis.

Occupational Therapist Treatment of Patients in the Neurological Critical Care Unit: Utilization and Patient Characteristics.

Occupational therapy use in the neurological critical care unit (NCCU) may relate to patient factors, but data about these relationships remain unpublished. To examine how patient factors predict NCCU occupational therapy use and intervention types. Retrospective cohort study of electronic health records data from adults admitted to the NCCU between May 2013 and September 2015. NCCU in a large, urban academic hospital. Adults (age ≥18 yr; N = 1,134) admitted to the NCCU. Using length of stay (LOS), number of comorbidities, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, gender, age, and racial-ethnic minority status as independent variables, separate regression models identified predictors for each dependent variable: receipt of NCCU occupational therapy, occupational therapy onset (days after admission), and receipt of self-care or home management (ADL-Home); functional activities or cognitive training (Func-Cog); and therapeutic exercise (Ther-Ex). Four hundred twenty patients (37.0%) received occupational therapy in the NCCU. Receipt of occupational therapy was positively associated with LOS, number of comorbidities, GCS score, and age. Earlier occupational therapy onset was associated with higher GCS score and shorter LOS. Receipt of ADL-Home or Func-Cog interventions was significantly predicted by number of occupational therapy sessions, but patients with longer LOS were less likely to receive ADL-Home interventions. Receipt of Ther-Ex interventions became less likely as GCS score increased. Patients are more likely to receive occupational therapy services if they are older and have a longer NCCU LOS, more comorbidities, and a higher level of consciousness. What This Article Adds: A patient's level of consciousness is clearly associated with occupational therapy utilization and hospital outcomes, but it should not be the only factor considered when prioritizing patients for NCCU occupational therapy services. Compared with patients who were more awake and alert, patients with a lower level of consciousness had a later onset of occupational therapy, which suggests an opportunity for NCCU occupational therapists to collaborate with physicians in the modification of sedation protocols to enable early rehabilitation.

Brain structural correlates of upward social mobility in ethnic minority individuals

PurposePerigenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC) is a neural convergence site for social stress-related risk factors for mental health, including ethnic minority status. Current social status, a strong predictor of mental and somatic health, has been related to gray matter volume in this region, but the effects of social mobility over the lifespan are unknown and may differ in minorities. Recent studies suggest a diminished health return of upward social mobility for ethnic minority individuals, potentially due to sustained stress-associated experiences and subsequent activation of the neural stress response system.MethodsTo address this issue, we studied an ethnic minority sample with strong upward social mobility. In a cross-sectional design, we examined 64 young adult native German and 76 ethnic minority individuals with comparable sociodemographic attributes using whole-brain structural magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsResults showed a significant group-dependent interaction between perceived upward social mobility and pACC gray matter volume, with a significant negative association in the ethnic minority individuals. Post-hoc analysis showed a significant mediation of the relationship between perceived upward social mobility and pACC volume by perceived chronic stress, a variable that was significantly correlated with perceived discrimination in our ethnic minority group.ConclusionOur findings extend prior work by pointing to a biological signature of the “allostatic costs” of socioeconomic attainment in socially disadvantaged upwardly mobile individuals in a key neural node implicated in the regulation of stress and negative affect.

Biopsychosocial Factors Associated with Depression among U.S. Undergraduate International Students

Using a biopsychosocial framework, our study examined the biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors associated with depression among a cross-sectional sample of undergraduate international students (N = 712) attending 28 U.S. colleges and universities. Consistent with hypotheses, regression analysis revealed that self-esteem, life satisfaction, and coping self-efficacy were negatively associated with depressive symptoms, and that ethnic minority status, perceived discrimination, and financial concerns were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Contrary to predictions, age, optimism, friendships, and school belonging were not significant predictors, and perseverance predicted increased depression in this sample. The novel findings provide implications for researchers, university administrators, and counselors.

Predicting risk along the suicidality continuum: A longitudinal, nationally representative study of the Irish population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

IntroductionLittle is known about the lifetime prevalence of different indicators of suicidality in the Irish general population; whether suicidality has increased during the COVID‐19 pandemic; and what factors associated with belonging to different points on a continuum of suicidality risk.MethodsA nationally representative sample of Irish adults (N = 1,032) completed self‐report measures in May 2020 and a follow‐up in August 2020 (n = 715).ResultsLifetime prevalence rates were 29.5% for suicidal ideation, 12.9% for non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI), and 11.2% for attempted suicide. There were no changes in past two‐week rates of NSSI and attempted suicide during the pandemic. Correlations between the indicators of suicidality supported a progression from ideation to NSSI to attempted suicide. Suicidal ideation alone was associated with being male, unemployed, higher loneliness, and lower religiosity. NSSI (with no co‐occurring attempted suicide) was associated with a history of mental health treatment. Attempted suicide was associated with ethnic minority status, lower education, lower income, PTSD, depression, and history of mental health treatment.ConclusionSuicidal ideation, NSSI, and attempted suicide are relatively common phenomena in the general adult Irish population, and each has unique psychosocial correlates. These findings highlight important targets for prevention and intervention efforts.

Progress, challenges and global approaches to rare diseases.

Rare diseases occur globally at every stage of life. Patients, families and caregivers have many unmet medical and social needs leading to extraordinary psychosocial and economic burdens. Efforts to improve diagnostic capabilities and to develop therapies for an estimated 7000 rare diseases have met with considerable success. In the United States, a rare disease or condition is one affecting fewer than 200,000 people. In the European Union (EU), a rare disease is any disease affecting fewer than 5 people in 10,000 (less than 1 in 2000 people). However, there are no effective treatments for 90 per cent of rare diseases. There is a need to expand awareness, advocacy and outreach to everyone including those with low incomes, poor literacy, minority ethnic status and living in underserved and marginalised populations in urban and rural areas as well as in developing nations throughout the world. The acceptance of patients as research partners complements the increased research emphasis and major regulatory initiatives leading to expedited review and approval programmes for products for serious or life-threatening conditions. The pipeline of new therapies provides hope to untreated patients. Advances in medical bioinformatics, artificial intelligence and machine learning with access to big data continue to identify novel therapeutics for screening and evaluation. Advanced analytics can identify the patterns of disease occurrence, predict disease progression, identify patient response to treatments, establish optimal care guidelines and generate research hypotheses with the narrowly identified research patient populations.

Racial and ethnic disparities in post-traumatic stress and illness coherence in breast cancer survivors with comorbid diabetes.

Breast cancer survivors (BCS) with comorbid diabetes mellitus (DM) and of racial and ethnic minority status are at higher risk of cancer-related post-traumatic stress (PTS) and severe illness beliefs. These affective and cognitive outcomes influence self-management and treatment adherence in patients with chronic conditions, yet little is known regarding the interplay of these processes in diverse BCS with comorbid DM. The purposes of this study were to (1) describe racial and ethnic differences in cancer-related PTS and illness perceptions; and (2) examine the relationship between PTS and illness perceptions in BCS with comorbid DM. Female BCS with DM completed measures of cancer related stress (Impact of Events Scale-Revised) and cancer and DM illness perception (Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised). Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between PTS, race and illness perceptions. Of the 135 BCS with comorbid DM, the mean (standard deviation) age was 65.3 (7.1) years, 38% were Black, 31% Non-Hispanic White (NHW), 13% Hispanic/Latina, and 18% were "other." Minority women were more likely to report cancer-related PTS (p<0.01). In adjusted analyses, PTS was associated with chronicity (odds ratio [OR]=9.79, p=0.005), time-cycle (OR=6.71, p=0.001), negative consequences (OR=3.95, p=0.018), and negative emotional impact (OR=12.63, p<0.001) of cancer. Minority BCS with comorbid DM report higher rates of cancer-related PTS and lower cancer illness coherence relative to NHW survivors. Cancer-related PTS influences cancer and DM illness perceptions. Culturally sensitive care is needed to improve these outcomes in minority BCS. This article presents findings from a cross sectional cohort of an understudied population of racially and ethnically diverse BCS with comorbid diabetes. The results indicate that the occurrence of PTS is significantly higher in racial and ethnic minority women and is strongly associated with more severe illness perceptions.

Broadening the Self and Including the Other: ‘Other Ethnicities’ in the Media and the Archives of Latvian Folklore in the Late 1920s

The foundation of the Republic of Latvia in 1918 changed significantly ethnic relationships in the country. Ethnic Latvians became not only the numerical but also the political and cultural majority, and thereby the concept and status of ethnic minorities were created. This article examines the visibility of ethnic minorities in the newly established state, focusing on the case of the Archives of Latvian Folklore, founded in 1924, as one of the core institutions that strengthened national cultural values. The ‘folklore of other ethnicities’ category was introduced and discussed at the archive during the first years of its existence. Volunteer folklore collectors played an active role in the discussions, revealing the bottom-up aspects of the implementation of the archive’s policy. However, rather than pointing to the ethnic affiliation of the involved people, the archival records reflect more often the blurred linguistic boundaries in Latvian society.

COVID-19 Outcomes Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Individuals With Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the United States

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected more than 29 million people and led to more than 542,000 deaths in the United States.1 Older age, comorbidities, and racial and ethnic minority status are associated with severe COVID-19.2 Among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), racial and ethnic minorities have worse outcomes, mediated in part by inequitable health care access.3 Racial and ethnic minority patients with IBD and COVID-19 may be an especially vulnerable population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes among IBD patients and the impact of non-IBD comorbidities on observed disparities.

Ethnicity and socioeconomic status: missing in research means missing in clinical guidance.

As GPs, medical students and researchers serving diverse and disadvantaged communities, we are often frustrated by the lack of evidence for chronic disease management that is tailored to the populations we serve. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter campaign have highlighted how racism and inequality persist in society and the impacts this has on health inequalities, including inequities in representation in clinical guidelines. Type 2 diabetes is an excellent example of a condition which is socially patterned and is also more prevalent in Asian and Black patients compared to those of White ethnicity in the UK, with differences in morbidity and mortality.1 The metabolism, the therapeutic effectiveness of drugs, and the risk of adverse drug reactions can vary significantly between different ethnic groups.2 There is also ethnic variation in drug compliance and healthseeking behaviours, which can reflect structural inequities in healthcare delivery.3 The intersection of ethnic minority status and low socioeconomic status (SES) can compound the effects of the health inequalities linked to ethnicity. SES influences disease prevalence and patient response to treatment,4 with greater challenges meeting diabetic care targets in areas of deprivation.5 Clinical trials often fail to include representative proportions of certain groups, such as ethnic minorities, women, or those with a low SES.6 This means that clinical guidance is often based on evidence that has not explored the best treatment options for individuals from these underrepresented groups.7 For type 2 diabetes, this …

Bicycling-Related Mortality in Ecuador: A Nationwide Population-Based Analysis from 2004 to 2017

Urban cycling is gaining popularity worldwide. Inadequate local and international guidelines on street cycling have contributed to a significant increase in road traffic/cycling collisions. Developing countries are the least safe for cyclists. In this sense, this is the first epidemiological study that seeks to determine the impact of street cycling-related mortality in Ecuador over the last 13 years. Methods: A descriptive ecological analysis of the epidemiology of bicycling-related mortality in Ecuador was conducted. All deaths identified as V10 to V19 according to the International Code of Diseases 10th edition (ICD-10) from 2004 to 2017 were retrieved from the National Institute of Statistics and Census in Ecuador (INEC) database. Results: From 2004 to 2017, a total of 300 deaths among street cyclists were officially reported in Ecuador. From this, 91% of the victims were men (n = 273) and 9% were women (n = 27). In relationship to other traffic accidents, bicycle-related deaths accounted for 0.68% of the overall car accident mortality. Bicycle-related deaths are more frequent in urban areas with 85% (n = 257), while rural areas accounted for 15% of the deaths (n = 43). In addition, lower educational attainment (75% did not reach secondary school) seems to be linked with higher mortality rates. Conclusions: In Ecuador, fatalities involving cyclists are an important part of the burden of disease attributed to traffic accidents. These preventable deaths are becoming a growing health problem, especially among those with poorer health determinants, such as lower educational attainment, ethnic minority status, and living in rural areas. The lack of public policy related to the prevention of this type of accident, as well as the irresponsibility of cars and transport vehicle drivers, might be associated with an increasingly high portion of the overall bicycle-related mortality in Ecuador.