Significant Ethnic Group Differences Research Articles

Ethnic Group Differences in the Timing of Autism Diagnosis, Intellectual Disability, and Educational Placement of Autistic Children in Singapore.

Given Singapore's distinct multicultural identity, this study examined the hypotheses that there may be ethnic group differences in diagnosis and outcomes in autistic children in Singapore. Retrospective data were obtained from medical records of all children born between 2008 and 2011 who were diagnosed with clinical or confirmed autism. One-way ANOVAs and regression analyses were used to analyze data. Data from 2577 medical records were extracted. There were more boys (82.5%) and ethnic group distribution was Chinese (67%), Malay (14%), Indian (10%), and Others (10%). Chinese children were more likely to present at a developmental clinic with concerns 3-4months younger compared to Malay children and those from Other Races (F(3, 2038) = 9.58, p < .001, Cohen's F = 0.12). Chinese children were also more likely to receive an autism diagnosis approximately 3months younger compared to Malay children. Fewer autistic Chinese children were diagnosed with co-occurring intellectual disability (13.1%) while there were almost twice more Malay children than expected with co-occurring intellectual disability (29.9%) (χ2 (3) = 55.17, p < .001). There are correspondingly more Malay children on the autism spectrum who attend special education schools. Possible confounding variables such as household income level and mother's level of education were identified in some of these findings. Several significant ethnic group differences in autistic children in Singapore exist that warrant more investigation into possible causes and support systems needed, with implications for other ethnically diverse nations.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Status, Chronic Conditions, and Behavioral Risk Factors Among Prostate Cancer Survivors, United States, 2015.

IntroductionLittle is known about perceived health status and behavioral risk factors among prostate cancer survivors. The objective of this study was to describe racial and ethnic differences in self-reported health status, chronic conditions, and selected behavioral risk factors among prostate cancer survivors in the US.MethodsWe used data from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey to calculate the prevalence of various levels of health status, chronic conditions, behavioral risk factors, and sociodemographic characteristics among prostate cancer survivors aged 50 years or older. We stratified results by race and ethnicity.ResultsOf the 317 prostate cancer survivors in our sample, 33.1% reported no physical activity, 64.2% reported being current drinkers, 26.1% characterized their drinking as moderate/heavy, 42.3% reported being former smokers, and 8.7% were current smokers. Nearly one-third (29.1%) of survivors were obese (body mass index ≥30), and 15.1% had 3 to 6 chronic conditions. A greater percentage of White (29.7%) than Black (14.2%) or Hispanic (16.3%) survivors were moderate/heavy drinkers. A greater percentage of Black (16.2%) than White (7.5%) or Hispanic (7.3%) survivors were current smokers. A greater percentage of Black (25.1%) or Hispanic (27.7%) than White (11.4%) survivors had 3 to 6 chronic conditions.ConclusionAs the population of older men increases, prostate cancer diagnoses and those surviving the disease will also increase. Significant racial and ethnic group differences in behavioral risk factors and chronic conditions exist among prostate cancer survivors. Public health could prioritize efforts to improve health behaviors among prostate cancer survivors and use targeted interventions to address disparities.

School-based mental health prevention for Asian American adolescents: Risk behaviors, protective factors, and service use.

This study drew on epidemiological data from a large urban school district to evaluate the implementation of a school-based mental health (SBMH) prevention initiative at 15 high schools. The purpose of this research was to measure the prevalence of student risk factors and protective factors by race and ethnicity and assess the engagement of Asian youth in prevention services. Results indicated statistically significant racial and ethnic group differences in the prevalence of risk factors (self-reported depressive symptoms, substance use, externalizing behavior at school, failing grades, truancy, and discrimination by school adults and peers), and protective factors (school, home, and peer assets). Controlling for gender, family structure, risk behaviors, protective factors, and school composition, Black (OR 2.31, p .001), Latino (OR 1.36, p .05), and multiracial (OR 1.42, p .01) students had significantly higher odds of using their SBMH program than Asian students. Among Asian ethnic subgroups, Cambodian youth (OR .62, p .01), were the only group that had lower odds of accessing school-based services than their Chinese peers. Findings suggest that, to reach underserved Asian American adolescents, prevention programs must address cultural and contextual influences on adolescent help seeking when program outreach and enrollment strategies are being developed. Additional research in the field of prevention science is needed to understand the mechanisms driving patterns of prevention service use by race and ethnicity.

Ethnic/Racial differences in peer and parent influence on adolescent prescription drug misuse.

To describe ethnic/racial group differences in prescription drug misuse within a nationally representative sample of US adolescents. Also to identify potential sociocultural influences on this health risk behavior. A secondary data analysis was conducted on the public-use data of the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health using the records of 12- to 17-year-old African American, Hispanic, and white participants (N = 18,614). Logistic and Poisson regression analyses focused on examining the predictive role of perceived parental and peer substance use disapproval on adolescents' prescription drug misuse and how these social influences varied by ethnic group. Within this sample, 10.4% of adolescents endorsed misusing 1 or more subtypes of prescription drugs. The results showed significant ethnic group differences in rates of prescription drug misuse such that white adolescents reported the highest rates and African American adolescents reported the lowest rates of prescription drug misuse. Rates of misuse for Hispanic adolescents fell in between. Importantly, perceived parental and peer substance use disapproval decreased the likelihood of prescription drug misuse most significantly among white adolescents compared to Hispanic and African American adolescents. Furthermore, influence of disapproval differed by the type of substance, indicating ethnic group differences in disapproval, such as views of alcohol versus marijuana use. These findings provide new ethnic group-specific information about the role that the attitudes of peers and parents on substance use may play in whether adolescents misuse prescription drugs. Future studies should explore possible parent/peer-related socialization mechanisms, which may account for these ethnic group differences.

Re-examining ethnic differences in concerns, knowledge, and beliefs about Alzheimer's disease: results from a national sample.

This study aims to evaluate ethnic group differences in concerns, knowledge, and beliefs about Alzheimer's disease (AD) in three ethnic groups of older adults (White, Latino, and Black). The Health and Retirement Study is a US national representative study of older adults over the age of 50 years and their spouse of any age. The study is based on the 2010 wave. Analysis is based on data from 939 White, 120 Latino, and 171 Black respondents who completed a special module about AD concerns, knowledge, and beliefs. There were significant ethnic differences on 7 of 13 items. However, after the adjustment for education, gender, age, having a family member with AD, depressive symptoms, and medical comorbidity, only four items showed significant ethnic group differences; relative to White respondents, Black respondents were less likely to report that having a parent or a sibling with AD increases the chance of developing AD and that genetics was an important risk for AD. In addition, relative to White respondents, both Black and Latino respondents were more likely to perceive stress as a potential risk for AD. Latino respondents were less likely to perceive mental activity as a protective factor. The study found limited ethnic group differences, with most items showing a similar pattern across groups. Nevertheless, the nature of the ethnic group differences found might be associated with a differential pattern of health service use.

Assessment and Diagnosis of Dementia in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Outpatients

We examined whether (a) neuropsychological test performance (NP) or (b) informant reports of patients' functional abilities or (c) behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPS) predicted dementia diagnoses to different degrees among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). Our sample included 444 Hispanic and 444 (randomly selected from 11,081) NHW outpatients diagnosed with normal cognition or dementia at their initial evaluations. We tested for significant ethnic-group differences in dementia diagnosis predictors using NP and the 2 informant reports, covarying for age, sex, and education. When using ethnic group-specific norms, NP and functional abilities predicted diagnosis in both groups with no significant differences but BPS was only significant in Hispanics. When using combined ethnic group norms, the only major difference was that BPS approached but did not meet statistical significance in Hispanics. Clinicians may be aware of the limitations of NP and may thus be informally adjusting their overall impressions of patients' NP among Hispanics and weighing certain tests differentially across ethnic groups when assessing dementia. Though these approaches may be aimed at reducing misdiagnosis, their effectiveness is questionable and they may be driving systematic differences in diagnosis within and across ethnicities. In addition, informant-reported functional abilities may be less sensitive to ethnicity-related influences and represent an important, ethnically neutral area in dementia assessment. The predictive value of informant-reported BPS in the diagnostic process across ethnic groups warrants further attention.

Cyberbullying among college students: prevalence and demographic differences

Participants were 439 college students who were asked how often they had experienced each of a series of bullying behaviors since they have been in college. Results indicated that 38% of college students knew someone who had been cyberbullied, 21.9% had been cyberbullied, and 8.6% had cyberbullying someone else. It was apparent that some forms of electronic media are more commonly used to cyberbully others than are other forms. All the cyberbullying behaviors and traditional bullying behaviors were significantly positively inter-correlated. There were no significant gender or ethnic group differences in any of the cyberbullying behaviors.

Resilience and Political Violence

Children in countries involved in violent national conflicts experience difficult and, at times, extreme events such as spending long hours in shelters, witnessing terror attacks, or having a family member absent or injured while participating in battle. This study explores the moderating effect of resilience factors, self-esteem, and self-control, on relations between political violence and children’s difficulties. Children and mothers from 104 Jewish- and 108 Arab-Israeli families complete questionnaires assessing political violence exposure, self-esteem, self-control, and the child’s social, psychological, and behavioral difficulties. Findings show that Israeli children exhibited heightened levels of psychological difficulties with high impact of political violence, a relationship that is partially moderated by self-control. In addition, significant ethnic group differences are found. First, political life events (PLE) are positively related to the child’s social, psychological, and behavioral difficulties in the Arab group. Second, the relationship between political life events and the child’s difficulties is moderated by self-control in the Jewish group and by self-esteem in the Arab group. Consequences of these results to understanding the impact of political violence and the role of individual resilience during conflict are discussed.

Ethnic group differences in early head start parents’ parenting beliefs and practices and links to children's early cognitive development

Abstract Data from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation study were used to examine the extent to which several factors mediate between- and within-ethnic-group differences in parenting beliefs and behaviors, and children's early cognitive development (analysis sample of 1198 families). The findings indicate that Hispanic-, European-, and African-Americans differ significantly in their parenting beliefs and behaviors. Children also evidence significant ethnic group differences in 24-month cognitive development; these differences were fully accounted for by controlling for maternal cognitive skills, as measured by lexical knowledge. In comparison, maternal parenting behaviors were only a partial mediator of ethnic group differences in children's cognitive development. Structural equation modeling was used to examine, within each ethnic group, the extent to which measured parenting beliefs and behaviors mediate the effect of maternal cognitive skills on children's early cognitive development. Analyses show that the mediated path from maternal cognitive skills to child cognitive development, via “mainstream” parenting beliefs and behaviors, was stronger for European-American families than for Hispanic- and African-American families. The policy implications of increasing the schooling-related cognitive skills of low-educated parents are discussed.

Associations ofALDH2andADH1BGenotypes With Alcohol‐Related Phenotypes in Asian Young Adults

Associations of ALDH2 and ADH1B genotypes with alcohol use have been evaluated largely using case-control studies, which typically focus on adult samples and dichotomous diagnostic outcomes. Relatively fewer studies have evaluated ALDH2 and ADH1B in relation to continuous drinking outcomes or at different developmental stages. This study examined additive and interactive effects of ALDH2 and ADH1B genotypes on drinking behavior in a mixed-gender sample of Asian young adults, focusing on continuous phenotypes (e.g., heavy episodic and hazardous drinking, alcohol sensitivity, drinking consequences) whose expression is expected to precede the onset of alcohol use disorders. The sample included 182 Chinese- and Korean-American young adults ages 18 years and older (mean age = 20 years). Effects of ALDH2, ADH1B and ethnicity were estimated using generalized linear modeling. The ALDH2*2 allele predicted lower reported rates of alcohol use and drinking consequences as well as greater reported sensitivity to alcohol. There were significant ethnic group differences in drinking outcomes, such that Korean ethnicity predicted higher drinking rates and lower alcohol sensitivity. ADH1B status was not significantly related to drinking outcomes. Ethnicity and ALDH2 status, but not ADH1B status, consistently explained significant variance in alcohol consumption in this relatively young sample. Results extend previous work by showing an association of ALDH2 genotype with drinking consequences. Findings are discussed in the context of possible developmental and population differences in the influence of ALDH2 and ADH1B variations on alcohol-related phenotypes.

Ethnic Differences in Pain Perception and Patient-Controlled Analgesia Usage for Postoperative Pain

There are reports suggesting that sensitivity to and tolerance of both clinical and experimental pain differ among ethnic groups. We examined self-rated pain score and morphine usage in 1034 women who underwent elective lower cesarian section (LSCS) for their deliveries. Data on pain scores and amount of total morphine use according to patient-controlled analgesia were collected every 4 hours. Overall, lowest pain scores were recorded 12 hours after surgery and highest at 24 hours. Morphine consumption was highest within the first 4 hours and lowest between 12 and 16 hours. There were statistically significant ethnic group differences in pain scores (P = 1.7 x 10(-7)) and morphine usage (P = 2.8 x 10(-15)) between ethnic groups, with Indians having the highest mean pain score and using the highest amount of morphine. The ethnic differences in pain score and morphine self-administration persisted after controlling for age, body mass index, and duration of operation. Our findings of highly significant ethnic group difference in self-reported pain level and the amount of analgesia self-administered may have implications on optimal management of acute postoperative pain. Inadequate management of pain after cesarian deliveries might affect the emotional well-being and physical recovery of patients and affect mother-child bonding.

Ethnic differences in the nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR)

A substantial body of literature suggests that the experience of both clinical and experimental pain differs among ethnic groups, with African Americans generally reporting greater sensitivity to chronic and experimentally induced pain when compared to non-Hispanic whites. However, no studies to date have examined nociceptive processes that may underlie these differences. The nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) is based on the measurement of stimulus-induced spinal reflexes. Prior research suggests that the NFR threshold, or RIII response, is highly correlated with subjective pain thresholds. The current study evaluated responses to the nociceptive flexion reflex in healthy young adults from two different ethnic groups: African Americans ( n = 29) and non-Hispanic whites ( n = 28). Perceptual responses (e.g., pain ratings) as well as physiological reflex responses (i.e., biceps femoris EMG) were assessed. Significant ethnic group differences were observed for NFR reflex threshold, with African Americans producing a reflex at lower stimulation intensities relative to non-Hispanic whites. Interestingly, verbal pain ratings at NFR threshold were not significantly different between the groups, suggesting that the lower stimulation intensities required to elicit a reflex in African–American versus non-Hispanic white participants were nonetheless perceived as similar. Psychological Involvement, Positive and Negative Mood, and Rumination were correlated with NFR threshold in a pattern that was consistent across both ethnic groups. These results extend previous research on ethnic differences in self-report measures of pain by demonstrating group differences in a nociceptive muscle reflex.

Minority Status, Consumer Outcomes, and Service Inputs in Four States

Data from the Center for Outcome Analysis were subjected to independent secondary analysis involving comparisons by ethnic group of eight indicators of service quality for users of adult developmental disability services in four states. Ethnic group membership had very limited or no association with the consumer outcomes and service inputs evaluated. Where significant ethnic group differences were found, they were small, and there was no consistent pattern of a particular ethnic group doing better. These findings may relate to the substantial influence of developmental disability services in the lives of service recipients and to the effect of disability itself, in that adaptive behavior was strongly related to most consumer outcomes.

Health and Social Services for Male-to-Female Transgender Persons of Color in San Francisco

SUMMARY This article presents findings from an investigation of health needs, service utilization, and perceived barriers to services among male-to-female (MtF) transgender persons of color in San Francisco. Focus groups (n = 48) and survey interviews (n = 332) were conducted with convenience samples recruited from the community. Participants reported a range of health and social services needed during the previous year, with African-Americans and Latinas showing particularly strong service needs. Rates of utilizing services were high for basic health care but lower for social services, substance abuse treatment, psychological counseling, and gender transition-related medical services. No significant ethnic group differences in health service utilization were found. Qualitative findings evinced the call for transgender-specific programs and advanced provider training on transgender issues such as hormone use, gender transition, HIV/ AIDS care and prevention, substance abuse, and mental health problems.

Ethnic Differences in Pain Among Outpatients with Terminal and End-Stage Chronic Illness

To explore ethnic and country of origin differences in pain among outpatients with terminal and end-stage chronic illness. Cohort study within a year-long trial of a palliative care consultation. Outpatient general medicine practice in an academic medical center. Ninety patients with advanced congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or cancer, and with a prognosis between 1 and 5 years. Patients' report of pain using the Brief Pain Inventory and analgesic medications prescribed by primary care physicians. Differences in pain report and treatment were assessed at study entry, at 6 and 12 months. The overall burden of pain was high. Patients of color reported more pain than white patients, including measures of least pain (P = 0.02), average pain (P = 0.05), and current pain (P = 0.03). No significant ethnic group differences in pain were found comparing Asian, black, and Latino patients. Although nearly all patients who were offered opioid analgesics reported using them, opioids were rarely prescribed to any patient. There were no differences in pain between patients born in the U.S. and immigrants. Pain is common among outpatients with both terminal and end-stage chronic illness. There do not appear to be any differences in pain with regard to country of origin, but patients of color report more pain than white patients. Patients of all ethnicities are inadequately treated for their pain, and further study is warranted to explore the relative patient and physician contributions to the finding of unequal symptom burden and inadequate treatment effort.

Ethnic Differences in Career Supports and Barriers for Battered Women: a Pilot Study

Little empirical attention has been given to the career development needs of battered women. Using social cognitive career theory, the authors examined the relationships among abuse experiences, perceived career barriers, and contextual supports to the career-related self-efficacy and outcome expectations of 74 European American and ethnic minority battered women. The authors hypothesized that women of color would anticipate greater difficulty overcoming barriers, anticipate needing more future support, and have lower career-related self-efficacy and outcome expectations than European American women. Results showed no statistically significant ethnic group differences in participants’ perceptions of difficulty overcoming barriers, anticipated future support needed, and career-related self-efficacy and outcome expectations. Results did show ethnic group differences in the relationships between contextual supports and career-related self-efficacy and outcome expectations. The authors discuss implications for research and practice.

An Investigation Of Ethnic Differences In The Motivation And Strategies For Learning Of Students In Desegregated South African Schools

No significant ethnic group differences were found in the academic motivation or learning strategies of more than 200 White and 200 Black South African students from two recently integrated secondary schools. Both groups considered working hard and having interest in school tasks to be more important than competition or affiliation. The former items tended to be the best predictors in both groups of the use of deep learning strategies, which are known to be prerequisites for high-quality learning outcomes. The motivation scales tended to be better predictors of learning strategies for the Black students.

Crosscultural Differences in Learning Styles of Secondary English Learners

This study investigated the learning styles of English learners (Armenian, Hmong, Korean, Mexican, and Vietnamese) in secondary schools. For statistical analyses a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and post hoc multiple comparisons of means tests (Scheffe tests) were used. A sample of 857 cases collected from 20 high schools in California found significant ethnic group differences as well as achievement level differences in basic learning style preferences. Students in this study favored a variety of instructional strategies. They exhibited either major or minor preferences for all four basic perceptual learning styles but significant ethnic group differences in preferences for group and individual learning. All students exhibited either major or minor preferences for kinesthetic or tactile learning. Hmong, Mexican, and Vietnamese students preferred group learning while Armenian and Korean students did not. However, all five ethnic groups (Armenian, Hmong, Korean, Mexican, and Vietnamese) showed either major or minor preferences for visual learning. In addition, middle and high achievers were more visual than low achievers; high and middle achievers preferred individual learning but low achievers did not; and newcomers exhibited much greater preference for individual learning than those who had been longer in the United States

A tri-ethnic examination of symptom expression on the positive and negative syndrome scale in schizophrenia spectrum disorders

This study examined differences in symptom expression as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS [Schizophr. Bull. 13 (1987) 261]) in a tri-ethnic sample of persons diagnosed with schizophrenia. We hypothesized that ethnic differences would be more apparent in Positive Scale symptoms than in Negative and General Scale symptoms of the PANSS. The sample of 351 persons receiving services in community-based mental health clinics came from the initial phase of the San Diego site of the Schizophrenia Care and Assessment Program (SCAP), a longitudinal naturalistic study on the course of schizophrenia treatment. Participants were 88 African-Americans, 198 Euro-Americans, and 65 Latinos. Baseline PANSS scale scores and individual items were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Covariance procedures to examine symptoms by ethnic group and living situation while controlling for income, education, and age. There were no significant ethnic differences on the scale scores. At the item level of analysis, significant ethnic group differences were found in Hallucinatory Behavior, Suspiciousness, Excitement, and for Somatic Concerns. The cultural implications for the ethnic differences in each symptom behavior and the need for further research on symptom expression from an ethnographic perspective are discussed.

Ethnic differences in self reported health in Malmö in southern Sweden

STUDY OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to investigate ethnic differences in self reported health in the city of Malmö, Sweden, and whether these differences could be explained by psychosocial...