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Ethnic Density and Mental Health: Does it Matter Whether the Ethnic Density is Co-ethnic or Multi-ethnic and How Important is Change in Ethnic Density?
- Source :
-
Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities [J Racial Ethn Health Disparities] 2024 Jul 23. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 23. - Publication Year :
- 2024
- Publisher :
- Ahead of Print
-
Abstract
- The ethnic density thesis suggests a protective health benefit for ethnic minorities living in places with higher concentration of co-ethnic residents. This paper aims to make a step change in the examination of this thesis by proposing ethnic diversity rather than co-ethnic density will be more protective for mental health. The paper proposes ethnic diversity could be a community asset that benefits the health of all people in a neighbourhood regardless of their own ethnic group. Individual data is taken from the UK Household Longitudinal Study, 2009-2019 linked to aggregate data from the 2001 and 2011 Censuses to test the association between co-ethnic density, ethnic diversity and mental health using the General Health Questionnaire 12-item scale. The paper takes a novel approach by measuring pre-existing (in 2001) and change in (2001-2011) co-ethnic density and ethnic diversity. Moderating effects of individual ethnic group, neighbourhood deprivation and perceived social cohesion are tested. Results show lower pre-existing co-ethnic density is related to lower mental health amongst the White British ethnic group but not in most ethnic minority groups. Greater pre-existing ethnic diversity in more deprived neighbourhoods is associated with better mental health regardless of individual ethnic group. A point of contention in the findings is no association between change in ethnic diversity and mental health.<br /> (© 2024. W. Montague Cobb-NMA Health Institute.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2196-8837
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 39042334
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-024-02071-4