Acculturative Stress and Identity Crisis: South Asians in Canadian Academe

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 268-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edith Samuel
Keyword(s):  
South Asian ◽  
Acculturative Stress ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Asian Students ◽  
Culture Conflict ◽  
Asian Student ◽  
Contested Meanings ◽  
Identity Crises ◽  
Canadian Culture

AbstractThis article explores the psychological processes of acculturative stress and identity crises in the lives of South Asian students in academe. It is evident that the anxieties about South Asian students' cultural adaptabilities are sites of contested meanings. This inquiry unsettles the seemingly predetermined category of "South Asian student" and considers how South Asian students' experiences are couched in a series of disparaging discourses. The conflicts and contradictions between the "traditional" culture "back home" and "Canadian" culture are noticeable. Further, the binaries of "tradition"/"modern"; "Indianized"/"Canadianized"; "Third World"/"West"; and "advanced"/"backward" are perceived to be divergent groupings. These contrasting categories are viewed as "mutually exclusive so that the only logical conclusion to anyone struggling with culture conflict is to choose either one side or the other, primarily for the sake of mental and emotional well-being (Paur, 1994:25)."

scholarly journals Newly Arrived South Asian Students’ Experience with the Canadian Healthcare System

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-64
Author(s):  
Inderpreet Khunkhun ◽  
Bonnie Fournier
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
South Asian ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Asian Students ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Exploratory Approach ◽  
The City

In this article, we report on the experiences of newly arrived South Asian international students (undergraduate and graduate levels) with accessing healthcare services in a small town setting in British Columbia, Canada. The objective of the study was to better understand the barriers and facilitators of accessing healthcare services. We used a qualitative design with an exploratory approach and conducted 8 semi-structured interviews with South Asians students that had newly arrived in the city of Kamloops and had been enrolled at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) for less than 12 months. Findings included barriers such as needing more information during on campus orientation, inefficiencies of the healthcare system, and accessing healthcare service. Facilitators of accessing healthcare services included attending campus orientation, having a curiosity, and a social support system. These findings provide new knowledge regarding the barriers and facilitators of accessing healthcare in Canada. In order to better meet the needs of international students programs and services must be tailored to this unique group of students.

Becoming multi-lingual in Hong Kong: The dilemmas of South Asian Students

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Linda Tsung ◽  
Eva Yi Hung Lau
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Asian Students

Acculturative stress and life satisfaction of Chinese rural-to-urban migrants

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Dekuo Liang ◽  
Lei Wang ◽  
Liying Xia ◽  
Dawei Xu
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Acculturative Stress ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Urban Migrants ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Relationship

Little is known regarding the life satisfaction of rural-to-urban migrants in China. In this study we assessed whether self-esteem and perceived social support mediated the association between rural-to-urban migrants' acculturative stress and life satisfaction. We use convenience sampling to recruit 712 migrants who were employed at construction sites in Nanjing for the study. Results reveal that acculturative stress was negatively related to self-esteem, perceived social support, and life satisfaction; self-esteem was positively associated with perceived social support and life satisfaction; and perceived social support was a significant and positive predictor of life satisfaction. In addition, we found that self-esteem and perceived social support partially mediated the relationship between acculturative stress and life satisfaction. Our findings provide a better understanding of life satisfaction over the course of migration, and add to knowledge of psychological well-being and mental health among rural-to-urban migrants in China.

scholarly journals Agroforestry to Achieve Global Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Targets: Are South Asian Countries Sufficiently Prepared?

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 303
Author(s):  
Shalini Dhyani ◽  
Indu K Murthy ◽  
Rakesh Kadaverugu ◽  
Rajarshi Dasgupta ◽  
Manoj Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Asia ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Implementation Phase ◽  
Adaptation And Mitigation

Traditional agroforestry systems across South Asia have historically supported millions of smallholding farmers. Since, 2007 agroforestry has received attention in global climate discussions for its carbon sink potential. Agroforestry plays a defining role in offsetting greenhouse gases, providing sustainable livelihoods, localizing Sustainable Development Goals and achieving biodiversity targets. The review explores evidence of agroforestry systems for human well-being along with its climate adaptation and mitigation potential for South Asia. In particular, we explore key enabling and constraining conditions for mainstreaming agroforestry systems to use them to fulfill global climate mitigation targets. Nationally determined contributions submitted by South Asian countries to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change acknowledge agroforestry systems. In 2016, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation’s Resolution on Agroforestry brought consensus on developing national agroforestry policies by all regional countries and became a strong enabling condition to ensure effectiveness of using agroforestry for climate targets. Lack of uniform methodologies for creation of databases to monitor tree and soil carbon stocks was found to be a key limitation for the purpose. Water scarcity, lack of interactive governance, rights of farmers and ownership issues along with insufficient financial support to rural farmers for agroforestry were other constraining conditions that should be appropriately addressed by the regional countries to develop their preparedness for achieving national climate ambitions. Our review indicates the need to shift from planning to the implementation phase following strong examples shared from India and Nepal, including carbon neutrality scenarios, incentives and sustainable local livelihood to enhance preparedness.

Domestic Violence Victimization among South Asian Immigrant Men and Women in the United States

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110152
Author(s):  
Abha Rai ◽  
Y. Joon Choi
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
South Asian ◽  
South Asians ◽  
The United States ◽  
Asian Immigrant ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Violence Victimization ◽  
Immigrant Men ◽  
South Asian Immigrant

Domestic violence is a pernicious social problem in the United States and a cause of national concern. The South Asian culture disempowers individuals experiencing domestic violence from recognizing and reporting victimization. Structural inequities may also discourage reporting victimization. These issues have led to inconsistent findings of domestic violence prevalence rates. Additionally, domestic violence studies with South Asians in the United States have predominantly focused on women, omitting men from this purview of research. The purpose of this study was to examine domestic violence victimization rates as well as their correlates among South Asian immigrant men and women. The sample for this cross-sectional study included 468 South Asians across the 50 U.S. states. Descriptive statistics were used to establish rates of domestic violence victimization. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to examine the correlates of domestic violence victimization. All of the sociodemographic information was added in step 1, and acculturation and gender-role attitudes were added as covariates in step 2. The most prevalent type of domestic violence victimization was physical violence (48%), followed by emotional (38%), economic (35%), verbal (27%), immigration-related (26%), in-laws related (19%), and ultimately sexual abuse (11%). Prevalence rates were higher for women than for men in each type of violence. According to the logistic regression results, education, generational position, family type, and employment were significant correlates of domestic violence victimization. Prior to development of prevention programs by community agencies, it is essential to understand the nature and prevalence of domestic violence experiences among South Asians. The victimization of men in addition to women adds to the novelty of this research study and paves the way for practitioners and scholars to engage in conversations about providing both male and female victims of domestic violence with the needed resources and support. The article will discuss implications for research, practice, and policy.

Abstract P199: Mean Lipoprotein Levels and Composition in South Asian-Americans Compared to the US Population

Circulation ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Flowers ◽  
Cesar Molina ◽  
Ashish Mathur ◽  
Bradley Aouizerat ◽  
Mintu Turakhia
Keyword(s):  
South Asian ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Low Density Lipoproteins ◽  
Lipid Lowering ◽  
Lipid Lowering Therapy ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
South Asian Americans ◽  
Lowering Therapy ◽  
The Us

Background South Asians have increased disk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) that is not captured by traditional risk factors, including TC and LDL-c. Low-density apolipoprotein-B (apoB) containing lipoproteins are heterogeneous in size and composition, and the particles with the greatest triglyceride content are thought to ultimately be the most atherogenic. Specific composition of low-density lipoproteins is not captured by common lipid measures (i.e. TC, LDL-c). A high proportion of triglyceride-rich low-density lipoproteins could be a mechanism for CVD risk in South Asians. Our objective was to compare mean TC, LDL-c, HDL-c, triglycerides, and apoB-triglyceride ratio (an estimate of low-density lipoprotein content) between South Asian-Americans and the US population. Methods We studied 2,876 South Asian adults living in the United States participating in a wellness program. Demographics were obtained by self-report. Lipoprotein levels were measured after 10-hour fast. US population means were calculated from NHANES (2007-2008, n = 5,113). Individuals on lipid-lowering therapy were excluded (780 (33%) South Asians, 1,194 (19%) NHANES). Results LDL-c (118mg/dL vs 116mg/dL, p<0.05) and triglycerides (139mg/dL vs 131 mg/dL, p<0.05) were higher in South Asians than the US population, whereas TC was lower (192mg/dL vs 197 mg/dL, p<0.05). HDL-c was lower in South Asians (46mg/dL vs 52mg/dL, p<0.05). ApoB was not statistically significantly different (93mg/dL vs 92mg/dL, p = 0.1), however the apoB/triglyceride ratio was lower in South Asians (0.8 vs 0.9, p<0.05). After stratifying for age by decade and gender, we found that South Asians have lower HDL-c until the age of 50, and lower apoB/triglyceride ratio until the age of 60, with no substantial differences between men and women. Conclusions Mean TC, LDL-c, and triglycerides were normal in South Asians, however the apoB/triglyceride ratio was lower in South Asians than in the US population. This finding indicates that a higher proportion of low-density lipoproteins in South Asians are of the triglyceride-rich atherogenic type. This may portend non-HDL-c as a better indicator of CVD risk than LDL-c in South Asians. Further, low apoB/triglyceride ratio and low HDL-c occurs at a young age in South Asians, suggesting that onset of risk is early. The disappearance of these patterns after age 60 may be the result of sample bias (excluding individuals on lipid lowering therapy), and/or survival bias.

Promoting allyship among South Asian and Arab Muslims toward Black and Latino/a Muslims in American Islamic centers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nausheen Pasha-Zaidi ◽  
Meg Aum Warren ◽  
Yvonne Pilar El Ashmawi ◽  
Neneh Kowai-Bell
Keyword(s):  
South Asian ◽  
South Asians ◽  
The United States ◽  
Muslim Americans ◽  
Social Categories ◽  
Islam In America ◽  
The Us ◽  
Racial Dialogue ◽  
Muslim Communities ◽  
Black And Latino

Increased social justice awareness in the United States and shifting demographics are giving birth to a more diverse and egalitarian generation. Improving relations across social categories has been a key topic in di-versity, equity, and inclusion work, but less emphasis has been placed on cross-racial allyship within mi-nority populations. While allyship in racial contexts is often perceived as a White versus non-White issue, this binary position erases the diversity that exists within communities of color. A dichotomous approach to allyship that positions White heterosexual males as the primary holders of privilege does not address the disparities that exist within and across minoritized communities. While Arabs and South Asians are minori-ties in the US on a macrolevel, they often hold privileged positions in Islamic centers and other Muslim spaces—even though Black Americans make up a larger percentage of the Muslim population. Additional-ly, there is an increasing number of Latino/a Muslims in the US, but they are often invisible in larger con-versations about Islam in America as well as in discourse among Muslim Americans. In this chapter, we explore the concept of allyship and how South Asian and Arab Muslims can support and advocate for Black and Latino/a Muslims in American Islamic centers. We also discuss Islamophobia in the US as well as the anti-Blackness and racism that exists within Muslim communities and provide suggestions on how Islamic centers can serve as spaces of allyship and cross-racial dialogue.

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