This paper examines the relationship between employment status and psychological well-being for a sample of British Asians; and explores the role of religiosity both as a direct predictor of well-being and as a moderator of the impact of unemployment. Two samples of male employed (N = 69) and unemployed (N = 71) British Asians were interviewed, selected to be equivalent in age and a number of demographic variables. Findings showed poorer psychological well-being for the unemployed group, and especially for those of middle age; thus replicating findings for white groups. Furthermore, the hypothesis of religiosity as buffering the impact of unemployment was confirmed. Results are interpreted in terms of transactional models of stress, and the benefits of religious belief and practice for unemployed people of Asian background are discussed.

No abstract

This paper aims to present a critical analysis of the development of indigenous psychologies within the western and non-western contexts. The rhetoric of indigenous psychologies is cross-examined to include historical perspectives, cultural interdependence and institutional regulations. The paper also examines the processes of psychologizing indigenous views that are largely regulated by the powerful social agencies. The paper endeavors to draw a link between historical perspectives and post-historical cultural interdependence in order to explicate the contentious issues of 'micro and macro indigenous psychologies', both within and beyond western indigenous psychologies. The importance of the cross-fertilization of knowledge from diverse indigenous psychologies for the development of a global indigenous psychology is reaffirmed.

SynopsisThis paper presents the results of a study of unemployment among British Asians living in the north of England. The sample comprises 139 employed and unemployed men. Using standardized psychological questionnaires with a semi-structured interview schedule, the psychological consequences of unemployment are examined in relation to other psychosocial variables. The results showed that the unemployed group had lower levels of psychological well-being, selfesteem, and employment commitment with high external beliefs, than the employed group. Length of unemployment was a significant determinant of psychological well-being and respondents with a longer period of unemployment had a lower level of psychological well-being than those who had been unemployed for a shorter period. The findings are examined in the context of existing empirical evidence, and the need to examine the psychological impact of unemployment among other British Asian groups is emphasized.