Needs assessment and policy development: Native Hawaiians as Native Americans.

Discusses needs assessment and policy development for Native Hawaiians (NHs) whose educational, social, and health needs resemble those of Native Americans and minority groups. A US government report indicated that NHs have a need for standardized achievement tests, special education, and culture-related education. Studies suggest that culture loss may be linked to negative personal health and educational outcomes for NHs. It is noted that NHs have high rates of suicide, alcohol and drug abuse, crime, child abuse, school adjustment problems, and mental illnesses. Cultural barriers prevent NHs from using existing mental health services. Recommendations for improving health care for NHs and development of policies including NHs as Native Americans are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Filipino Americans and racism: A multiple mediation model of coping.

Although the literature on Asian Americans and racism has been emerging, few studies have examined how coping influences one’s encounters with racism. To advance the literature, the present study focused on the psychological impact of Filipino Americans’ experiences with racism and the role of coping as a mediator using a community-based sample of adults (N = 199). Two multiple mediation models were used to examine the mediating effects of active, avoidance, support-seeking, and forbearance coping on the relationship between perceived racism and psychological distress and self-esteem, respectively. Separate analyses were also conducted for men and women given differences in coping utilization. For men, a bootstrap procedure indicated that active, support-seeking, and avoidance coping were mediators of the relationship between perceived racism and psychological distress. Active coping was negatively associated with psychological distress, whereas both support seeking and avoidance were positively associated with psychological distress. A second bootstrap procedure for men indicated that active and avoidance coping mediated the relationship between perceived racism and self-esteem such that active coping was positively associated with self-esteem, and avoidance was negatively associated with self-esteem. For women, only avoidance coping had a significant mediating effect that was associated with elevations in psychological distress and decreases in self-esteem. The results highlight the importance of examining the efficacy of specific coping responses to racism and the need to differentiate between the experiences of men and women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Use of interest inventories with Native Americans: A case for local norms.

Examined the appropriateness and usefulness of the Kuder General Interest Survey, Form E (Kuder-E), with a homogeneous Native American population by comparing the distribution of scores obtained on the Kuder-E by 66 male and 68 female 9th-grade NAs with the corresponding norms, by sex and grade in school, provided in the test manual. A comparatively large proportion of the NAs produced unacceptable scores on the verification scale. Comparisons on the 10 interest scales of the Kuder-E revealed statistically significant and substantial differences on 6 scales for males and 7 scales for females. In the NA sample, males and females differed on 6 of the interest scales. Results raise questions about the appropriateness of the items on the Kuder-E for the population investigated and suggest the advantage of using local norms for interpretation with homogeneous and divergent cultural groups. Conclusions are discussed in terms of the construction of the Kuder-E and within the context of nondiscrimination in interest measurement. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Implications of test revisions for assessment with Asian Americans.

There are serious gaps in knowledge with respect to the use of standardized assessment instruments such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Third Edition (WAIS–III; D. Wechsler, 1997) or the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 (MMPI–2; J. N. Butcher, W. G. Dahlstrom, J. R. Graham, A. Tellegen, & B. Kaemmer, 1989) with Asian Americans. Issues surrounding the availability, reliability, and validity of assessment instruments must be addressed before extended discussions about the implication of test revisions for this population can take place. The authors review the current status of the WAIS–III and MMPI–2 with Asian Americans with respect to their availability, reliability, and validity, including reasons why Asian Americans have been severely underrepresented in validation studies. The authors argue for the need to collect data on the use of standardized assessment instruments with Asian Americans and conclude with recommendations for the inclusion of this population in future test revision projects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Filial therapy with Native Americans on the Flathead Reservation.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 18(1) of International Journal of Play Therapy (see record 2009-00564-006). This article was originally published with the wrong first page. Printed issues contain the first page for the preceding article, "Effectiveness of Filial Therapy for Korean Parents," by Mikyung Jang. The online version has been revised to present the correct first page. The URL for the corrected online version is provided in the erratum.] Examined the effectiveness of the 10-wk filial therapy model as an intervention for 25 Native American parents (aged 23–46 yrs) and their 21 children (aged 3–10 yrs) residing on the Flathead Reservation in Montana. Results show that Native American parents significantly increased their level of empathy in their interactions with their children. Children significantly increased their level of desirable play behaviors with their parents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceiving pervasive discrimination among African Americans: Implications for group identification and well-being.

The processes involved in well-being maintenance among African Americans who differed in their attributions to prejudice were examined. A rejection–identification model was proposed where stable attributions to prejudice represent rejection by the dominant group. This results in a direct and negative effect on well-being. The model also predicts a positive effect on well-being that is mediated by minority group identification. In other words, the generally negative consequences of perceiving oneself as a victim of racial prejudice can be somewhat alleviated by identification with the minority group. Structural equation analyses provided support for the model and ruled out alternative theoretical possibilities. Perceiving prejudice as pervasive produces effects on well-being that are fundamentally different from those that may arise from an unstable attribution to prejudice for a single negative outcome. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of coping in the relationship between perceived racism and racism-related stress for Asian Americans: Gender differences.

On the basis of stress and coping theory, the authors examined coping as a mediator of the relationship between perceptions of racism and racism-related stress with a sample of Asian American college students (N = 336). Results indicated that coping mediated the relationship between racism and racism-related stress differentially by gender. The more that men perceived racism, the more likely they were to use support-seeking coping strategies that were associated with higher levels of racism-related stress. The more that women perceived racism, the more they used active coping strategies that were associated with higher levels of racism-related stress. The findings demonstrate how coping with racism differs for Asian Americans on the basis of gender. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Individualistic and collectivistic worldviews: Implications for understanding perceptions of racial discrimination in African Americans and British Caribbean Americans.

Cultural worldviews and perceived racial discrimination were examined among Americans (n = 106) and British Caribbean Americans (n = 95), both of African descent, who were recruited through university student organizations, community organizations, and snowball sampling. Consistent with public perceptions of differences in the experience of race among these 2 groups, multiple regression analyses revealed African Americans were more likely than British Caribbean Americans to perceive racial discrimination in the United States. In addition, a cultural worldview focus on individuality and equality (i.e., horizontal individualism) moderated the relationship between ethnic group and perceived racial discrimination. British Caribbean Americans who endorsed greater agreement with horizontal individualism were less likely to perceive racial discrimination. The same worldview was unrelated to African Americans' perceptions of racial discrimination. The results are discussed with respect to within-group heterogeneity among persons of African descent. Implications for counseling persons of African descent and future research directions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Americans with Disabilities Act: II. Implications and suggestions for compliance for medical schools

There is a need for more information about the Americans with Disabilities Act that is tailored to colleges of medicine so that faculty, staff, and administrators can understand and carry out their responsibilities under the Act. This report (Part II) and the previous one (Part I) in the same issue of Academic Medicine address this need. In Part I, key terms of the Act are defined; the present report focuses on the educational relationship between medical schools, applicants, and students in the context of the Act. A comprehensive array of the Act's implications are discussed in question-and-answer format. For example, what impact does the Act have on the application and admission process? Can a college of medicine ask students whether they have a disability? When does a school's duty to accommodate a disabled student begin? The report concludes with 15 recommended steps that colleges should take to comply with the Act, such as (1) colleges should develop policies and procedures for applicants and students who want to request accommodation for disabilities; (2) colleges should identify the essential abilities and skills required for admission and for participation in the degree program; and (3) colleges should consider instituting alternate dispute resolution procedures. Although following the recommended steps may seem overwhelming, medical schools are obligated by law to accommodate qualified disabled persons; failure to comply with the Act deprives academically qualified persons with disabilities of the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to fulfill degree requirements and become physicians. Medical educators must continue to adjust their understanding and knowledge of the Act's implications for medical schools, given that the interpretation of the Act will evolve as the courts amplify and implement it.     

Diabetic end-stage renal disease among Native Americans

OBJECTIVE: To examine why ESRD has become a major source of morbidity and mortality for Native Americans with diabetes mellitus. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using data from the Medicare ESRD Program, we examined incidence rates for ESRD among Native Americans for the years 1983-1987. RESULTS: During this period, the annual incidence of total ESRD in Native Americans increased by 18%, from 170.5/million to 200.1/million. The incidence of diabetic ESRD increased by 47%, from 80.6/million to 118.2/million. In 1987, the age-adjusted incidence rate of diabetic ESRD was 6.8 times higher in Native Americans than in whites. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations for the prevention of diabetic ESRD include early identification of renal disease and improved control of hypertension and blood glucose. The magnitude of diabetic ESRD among Native Americans also underscores the need for primary prevention of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.     

Mental Health Services for Native Americans in the 21st Century United States.

As the population of American Indians and Alaska Natives continues to expand in the 21st century United States, an increasing number of professional psychologists will be called upon to provide culturally appropriate mental health services for Native American people and their communities. This article provides a general overview of contemporary tribal America before describing the legal, political, and institutional contexts for mental health service delivery administered through the federally sponsored Indian Health Service. Recommendations for mental health professionals who desire to avoid a subtle but profound Western cultural proselytization in their therapeutic service to Native clients and their communities are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Patterns of cancer mortality among Native Americans

BACKGROUND: Native Americans have been reported to have lower cancer incidence and mortality than other racial groups in the U.S., although some have questioned whether this was due to racial misclassification. This study provides improved estimates of cancer mortality, determined from a sampling of people who live on Indian reservations. METHODS: The authors reviewed death certificates from U.S. counties that contain Indian lands, excluding certain areas with known problems of racial misclassification. Age-adjusted mortality rates for specific types of cancer were calculated using U.S. Census population figures, and these rates were compared with rates for all races in the U.S. RESULTS: This sample included 38% of the American Indian and Alaska Native populations. The age-adjusted annual mortality rate for all cancers combined was 148.2 per 100,000 for both genders, 133.1 for females, and 167.2 for males. The rates for males and for both genders combined, but not for females, were significantly lower than the U.S. rates for all races (P < 0.05). Females had significantly lower rates of death from carcinoma of the lung and breast and significantly higher rates of death from carcinoma of the cervix and gallbladder (P < 0.05). Males had significantly lower rates of death from carcinoma of the lung, colon, and prostate, and significantly higher rates of liver carcinoma. Both genders combined had significantly lower rates of death from lung and colon carcinoma and significantly higher rates of death from stomach, liver, kidney, and gallbladder carcinoma. Geographic differences were substantial, with the Northern and Plains regions experiencing much higher mortality from lung, colon, and breast carcinoma than the Southwest region. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the general U.S. population, Native Americans experience quite different patterns of cancer mortality. Cancer prevention and control programs should be designed specifically for this minority population.     

Differences between Native Americans and Whites on the California Psychological Inventory.

Minimal data exist regarding the performance of Native Americans on standardized self-report personality instruments. In this study, the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) was administered to a nonpsychiatric sample of 70 Native American adults and 100 White adults of equivalent age, educational background, and socioeconomic status. Native Americans scored significantly lower than the equivalent White sample on a number of CPI scales. These results appear to reflect primarily differences between Native American and White women, which may be a function of differences in acculturation and role expectations. Ethnicity appears to be an important factor in the production of differential response patterns on the CPI. The results suggest that Native Americans, particularly women, may be at a disadvantage when the CPI is used for selection purposes unless their responses are compared to cultural norms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychophysiology and racism.

Comments on the article by R. Clark et al (see record 1999-11644-001), which outlines a biopsychosocial model for perceived racism as a stressor among African Americans. This model and the questions it raises can and should inform empirical investigations of racism and health. The model can be situated in the debate over the diversification of psychology, the social meaningfulness of research, and bias in scientific research and practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The delivery of culturally sensitive health care to Native Americans

Cultural factors significantly influence the Native American's perspectives of traditional professional health care practices. To most effectively deal with Native American clients, health care providers must understand, respect, and demonstrate sensitivity to the values and implications of the Native American culture. A basic understanding of a group's cultural beliefs, values, and practices will enable the holistic nurse to appreciate the importance of appropriate interactions and techniques and, therefore, make health care more readily accepted. This article reviews the health and illness beliefs, the traditional remedies, the critical need for holistic health care, and the Five Great Values that guide Native American behavior. Familiarization with these cultural components will facilitate the provision of quality, holistic health care through improved interactions with Native American clients.     

The Americans with Disabilities Act and injured workers: Implications for rehabilitation professionals and the workers' compensation system.

Examines theoretical and practical interactions between the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the workers' compensation system. The ADA changes the workplace and assists the rehabilitation psychologist to intervene in the process that turns impairments into disabilities. The practical focus of employers must change from paying workers off to keep them from the workplace to aggressively trying to return them to work. Injured workers can be an "individual with a disability" under the ADA and qualified, with or without reasonable accommodation, to perform a job's essential functions if they are permanently disabled for workers' compensation purposes. The ADA's benefits and pitfalls for the rehabilitation psychologist and other rehabilitation professionals are outlined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sexism and racism: Old-fashioned and modern prejudices.

Prejudice and discrimination against women has become increasingly subtle and covert (N. V. Benokraitis & J. R. Feagin, 1986). Unlike research on racism, little research about prejudice and discrimination against women has explicitly examined beliefs underlying this more modern form of sexism. Support was found for a distinction between old-fashioned and modern beliefs about women similar to results that have been presented for racism (J. B. McConahay, 1986; D. O. Sears, 1988). The former is characterized by endorsement of traditional gender roles, differential treatment of women and men, and stereotypes about lesser female competence. Like modern racism, modern sexism is characterized by the denial of continued discrimination, antagonism toward women's demands, and lack of support for policies designed to help women (for example, in education and work). Research that compares factor structures of old-fashioned and modern sexism and racism and that validates our modern sexism scale is presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Oral corn pollen hypersensitivity in Arizona Native Americans: some sociologic aspects of allergy practice

Thirty-three Navajo patients were seen in a private allergy consultation practice in Flagstaff, Arizona between 1978 and 1990. Sufficient skin test and historical data were available from nine atopic patients to evaluate hypersensitivity reactions to oral corn pollen used in the Navajo ceremonials. Six of the nine patients had positive skin test reactions to corn pollen and four of these six reported symptoms from oral corn pollen. The symptoms included various combinations of oral and ear itching, sneezing, cough, and wheezing. One corn pollen skin test-negative patient reported slight throat itching from the pollen. In no case did the patient or referring primary care physician associate the symptoms with ceremonial oral corn pollen use. This is the first report of hypersensitivity reactions to the ceremonial use of oral corn pollen in native Americans.