Cultural identity, acculturation, and mental health among adolescents in east London’s multiethnic community

Abstract

Study objective:To investigate cultural identity as a risk factor for mental health problems among adolescents.Design:A cross sectional school based population survey. Mental health problems were measured using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. Pupils were classified into one of four cultural identity types on the basis of friendship and clothing choices.Setting:East London.Participants:2623 adolescents (aged 11–14) from a representative sample of 28 schools in east London.Results:In comparison with marginalised adolescents who chose friends from neither their own or other cultures, fewer mental health problems were found among adolescents making culturally integrated friendship choices (friends from own and other cultures: OR = 0.6, 0.4 to 0.9), boys making integrated friendship choices (OR = 0.45, 0.22 to 0.91), and specifically among Bangladeshi pupils with integrated friendship choices (OR = 0.15, 0.04 to 0.55).Conclusion:As measures of cultural identity, integrated friendship choices overall, and specifically for boys and Bangladeshi pupils, are associated with lower levels of adolescent mental health problems.

The Role of Acculturation in Suicidal Ideation among Second-Generation Immigrant Adolescents in France

“…The emergence of individualism as the acculturation orientation most highly predictive of suicidal ideation and behaviors appears to be at odds with previous reports of marginalization conveying the greatest risk for mental health in general (Bhui et al, 2005;Farver et al, 2002;Koneru, Weisman De Mamani, Flynn, & Betancourt, 2007). This result suggests that perhaps, concerning suicide specifically, an individualistic attitude that is dependent on neither support from the culture of origin nor support from the host culture, puts individuals at particular risk.…”

“…The fact that assimilation is a protective factor may come from the fact that the family of origin of these girls is also assimilated. The protective character of marginalization remains at odds with the literature surrounding the association between acculturation and mental health (Abu-Rayya, 2006;Bhui et al, 2005). One explanation of our findings might be that, for a girl, acknowledging an orientation towards marginalization may reflect an assertiveness, a strength of character, or a capacity to externalize aggressiveness outwards, that may protect against suicidal ideation.…”

“…Of particular interest for the present paper, these five kinds of acculturation orientations have been found to have different consequences on mental health mediated by distinct effects on acculturative stress (Berry, 1997(Berry, , 2005. Integration is barely or not related to mental health problems (Berry, Kim, Minde, & Mok, 1987;Berry & Sam, 1997;Bhui et al, 2005;Farver, Narang, & Bhadha, 2002;Koneru, Weisman de Mamani, Flynn, & Betancourt, 2007). On the contrary, separation and marginalization are positively associated with various mental health problems (Berry, 2003).…”

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: research and clinical applications

“…to establish young people's perceptions of mental illness and services [20]). Despite the extensive standardization of the SDQ in a number of countries, there has been less research with ethnic minority [21 ] and refugee children in Western countries [22], and this is an area that requires further attention. As many of these groups of vulnerable children may have been exposed to both acute trauma and chronic adversities, caution is needed in interpreting the presence of broad emotional and behavioural problems.…”

Cultural identity, clothing and common mental disorder: a prospective school-based study of white British and Bangladeshi adolescents

“…Little attention has been given to young people’s cultural identity and the health risks associated with adaptation to living in multi-ethnic urban areas 4 – 6. The magnitude of health risks and mediating mechanisms are important to understand in order to inform health policy, as well as immigration, social and education policies 7 8. For example, the individual freedom to wear some forms of traditional Muslim clothing and religious symbols in public places such as schools, law courts and airlines has recently been challenged 9.…”