In this exploratory study, the goal was to examine patterns of perceived ethnic discrimination, stereotype confirmation, and acculturation within the context of a diverse, inclusive university. It was predicted that reported rates of perceived ethnic discrimination would be low, but the majority of students would still experience some type of discrimination at least once. The second hypothesis for this study was that higher levels of discrimination, acculturation and stereotype confirmation would result in lower levels of college self-efficacy and GPA. These factors were also predicted to be positively associated with each other as well. The personality trait, conscientiousness was predicted to positively associated with acculturation, college self-efficacy, and GPA. The study surveyed 50 undergraduate students from the University of Central Florida taking psychology courses through the online SONA participation system. 86.4% of participants perceived at least one instance of ethnic discrimination. Perceived ethnic discrimination was also associated with lower levels of college self-efficacy, but not GPA. Acculturation and stereotype confirmation had no significant relationships with neither college self-efficacy or GPA. High rates of acculturation to the dominant American society was associated with lower rates of perceived discrimination and stereotype confirmation, opposite of the original hypothesis. The personality trait conscientiousness was also not captured in this study, but agreeableness and openness revealed significant relationships between all ethnicity-related factors and GPA. Acculturation’s role in perceptions of discrimination and stereotype concerns is discussed in detail. Limitations and future directions are addressed in the context of sample size, race and ethnicity statistics, and the complexities of discrimination and acculturation.

Denna empiriska studie ämnade till att undersöka hur äldreomsorgen inom kommun NN (påhittat namn) arbetar förebyggande mot etnisk diskriminering samt upplevelser kring detta arbete. Studien hade en kvalitativ ansats med en psykologisk utgångspunkt där semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes på både arbetstagare och enhetschefer för att sammanställa en helhetsbild av arbetet. Författarna genomförde ett målinriktat urval av organisation och därefter ett bekvämlighetsurval av respondenter. Detta resulterade i åtta deltagare (n=8) varav fyra av dessa var enhetschefer och fyra var undersköterskor, med en fördelning på tre män och fem kvinnor. En konstruerad intervjumall användes i genomförandet av intervjuerna och för resultatet användes en tematisk analysmetod. Studiens resultat visade att det förekommer brister i det förebyggande arbetet mot etnisk diskriminering på kommun NN. Information och kommunikation visade sig vara de huvudsakliga bristande faktorerna i det förebyggande arbetet mot etnisk diskriminering. / This empirical study aimed to investigate how the care of the elderly in municipality NN (fictive name) works to prevent ethnic discrimination and the experiences with this work. The study was operationalized with a qualitative approach with a psychological point of view. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with both employees and unit managers to compile a holistic picture of the work. The authors conducted a targeted selection of organization and then a convenience sampling. This resulted in eight participants (n = 8) of whom four were unit managers and four were nurses, with a distribution of three men and five women. A constructed interview template was used when conducting the interviews, and for the result a thematic analysis method was used. The findings of the study showed that there is a lack of preventive efforts against ethnic discrimination in municipality NN. The inadequate factors in the preventive work against ethnic discrimination were shown to be information and communication.

This study presents an investigation of ethnic discrimination in municipalities, by conducting a corresponding test, asking for information about available housing plots, and further examines if the municipalities are contributing to the ethnic discrimination in the housing market. The experiment was conducted by creating two fictitious couples, one Arabic and one Swedish, which was used in the emails, which then was sent out to all municipalities in Sweden. The corresponding test measured the callback rate, the time to receive a reply from the municipality and excluded auto generated replies from the municipalities. We present evidence of ethnic discrimination in the treatment of non natives, using the variable Reply, we found that the Arabic couple were being discriminated against on a 5 percent significance level, with them getting 8,62 percent less answers, Thus, the study's findings indicate that the Arabic couple is being disfavored, relative to the Swedish couple, when emailing municipalities. We conclude that municipalities, could be a contributing factor to the existing ethnic discrimination of non natives in the housing market.

In the light of a massive migratory movement who in 2015 resulted in more than 160 000 asylum applications in Sweden, a need for a good integration arises, which is partly linked to employment and an open labor market for everyone. The aim of this study is to investigate an employer's right to set language requirement when recruiting and what consequences this may cause for people who do not have Swedish as their native language. In order to achieve the purpose of the study, a jurisprudential method is primarily used with elements of the EU legal method. There is also a social scientific method in the study to illustrate the consequences of the language requirement. The investigation shows that an employer may set language requirement when recruiting if there is a legitimate purpose and the means used are appropriate and necessary to achieve the purpose of the language requirement, otherwise this could result in indirect discrimination on grounds of ethnicity. The conclusion shows that the law is vague regarding the application of the language requirement and an employer can easily get around the legislation with convenient arguments used in court. Two future scenarios in the analysis also shows that the impact of language requirement could lead to ethnic systematic discrimination in cases of glibly using. It can also have the opposite effect in terms of strengthening integration in the workplace and in society in cases of restrictively using.

Thesis advisor: Pratyusha Tummala-Narra / The present-day sociopolitical climate, with its noxious anti-immigrant sentiment and policies, has increased the emotional stress experienced by immigrant-origin populations. This dissertation presents findings from research that explored the relationship between race-and ethnicity-based discrimination, exposure to trauma, and psychological distress among a sample of Central American–origin immigrants and refugees in the United States. Informed by socio-ecological and contemporary acculturation theory, this research extended the traumatic stress and migration literature by examining how a global sense of social connectedness, as well as a sense of belonging to one’s ethnic community or the mainstream community, may mitigate or exacerbate the influence of discrimination and trauma on mental health. In addition, this research explored the potential moderating role of immigrant generation and documentation status. Participants (N=89) between 18 and 70 years of age completed surveys both online (N=28) and in person (N=61). Survey instruments included a demographic questionnaire, the Perceived Racism Scale for Latinos (PRSL), the Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ), the Social Connectedness Scale – Revised (SCS-R), the Social Connectedness in Mainstream (SCMN) and the Social Connectedness in the Ethnic Community (SCETH) scales, as well as measures to assess for symptoms of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), posttraumatic stress (PCL-C), and somatization (SSS-8). Ordinary least-squares regression analyses revealed that discrimination and exposure to trauma significantly predicted psychological distress. Higher levels of social connectedness predicted lower levels of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Mainstream social connectedness was found to moderate the association between exposure to trauma and PTSD such that for individuals with low levels of SCMN, posttraumatic stress was consistently relatively high regardless of the degree of trauma exposure. For those individuals with high SCMN, posttraumatic stress symptoms were low when trauma exposure was low. However, all individuals regardless of their sense of mainstream belonging experienced high PTSD when trauma exposure was high. In addition, a lower sense of mainstream belonging augmented the strength of the association between discrimination on depression, whereas a stronger sense of mainstream belonging reduced the strength of this relation. Specifically, individuals with low SCMN reported higher depressive symptoms with increasing perceived discrimination, while individuals with high SCMN reported similar levels of depression even at increasing levels of discrimination. Analyses did not support moderation effects for ethnic social connectedness, immigrant generation and documentation status. The study’s strengths and limitations as well as its significance for future research and practice are discussed. Implications highlight the multifaceted and dynamic nature of belongingness in the context of discrimination and trauma, and speak to the importance of culturally responsive and multi-systemic interventions. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology.

Thesis advisor: Thomas O'Hare / With implications for chronic disease and mortality, alcohol-related problems represent a threat to population health. Among U.S. Latinos, the process of acculturation has traditionally been identified as a predictor of drinking outcomes. However, past research on the relationship between acculturation and drinking has varied widely, leaving uncertainties regarding the circumstances under which the relationship operates or the reasons why the relationship is observed. The present study therefore explored the intricacies of the relationship between acculturation-related measures and drinking outcomes among U.S. Latinos, highlighting within-group variation based on sex and heritage country/region and the importance of examining mediators. Using a population-based probability sample of U.S. adults (NESARC-III, 2012-2013), the present study examined data from 7,037 self-identified Latinos. Using multivariable regression analyses, the study tested relationships between various conventionally-used acculturation measures (including proxy measures and an acculturation scale) and a range of drinking outcomes: drinking status, average daily ethanol intake, and DSM-5 alcohol use disorder. Moderation analyses examined the role of sex and heritage country/region. Finally, the study employed mediation analysis to test the hypothesized role of self-reported perceived ethnic discrimination as a mediator in the relationship between acculturation-related measures and drinking outcomes. Results indicated a significant and positive, albeit modest, relationship between acculturation-related measures and a range of drinking outcomes. Many of these relationships varied by sex or heritage country/region, depending on the specific acculturation-related measure and drinking outcome examined. Notably, the link between acculturation-related measures and DSM-5 alcohol use disorder was consistent for men and women. For Latino men, results of mediation analyses indicated that self-reported perceived ethnic discrimination acted as a partial mediator in the relationship between two acculturation-related measures and past-year DSM-5 alcohol use disorder. This finding lends credence to the notion that ethnic discrimination and experiences of “othering”—which can accompany the process of acculturation—may help explain problem drinking in U.S. Latino adult men. Further research is needed to uncover the variety of experiences or structures of discrimination involved in problem drinking among U.S. Latinos. Mediators in the relationship between acculturation and problem drinking may provide opportunities for intervention to weaken this detrimental relationship. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2019. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work. / Discipline: Social Work.

Quantitative and qualitative data from the 2002 Latino Adolescent Transition Study were used to explore differences in acculturative stress and gang involvement between foreign-born and U.S.-born Latino middle school students. Regression analyses showed significant interactions between discrimination stress and immigration status as well as adaptation stress and immigration status. U.S.-born youths were significantly more likely to be gang-involved if they experienced discrimination stress. They were also less likely to be gang-involved if they experienced high adaptation stress. A minority of primarily foreign-born youths identified economic inequality and prejudicial attitudes as factors that differentiated them from Americans. Those reporting economic inequality were more likely to be gang-involved than those who did not. These findings suggest that the origins of gang involvement could differ between the two immigrant generations. Whereas U.S.-born Latinos may be more negatively affected by discrimination, foreign-born Latinos may be more sensitive to their comparatively low economic status.

The situation on the Swedish labour market is different in opportunities whether you are a native Swede or someone who has a foreign background. People with foreign backgrounds tend to have lower wages, higher rate of unemployment and often have temporary employment contracts. There is a conception that the Swedish culture is the standard and other foreign cultures are abnormal and different. The purpose of this study has been to investigate why there is discrimination on the labour market against ethnic minorities and how the Swedish history has contributed to the structural ethnic discrimination that we are struggling with. I have been using the right dogmatic method and a social science perspective as complement in order to answer the purpose.   The legislation forbids ethnic discrimination, although the struggle is real and people get discriminated due to their ethnic heritage. Even though there are statistics and studies that confirm the ethnic discrimination on the labour market, the court cases are low and there has only been one conviction since 2002. There is a burden of proof that is controlled in the Swedish legislation, where the one who has been exposed of discrimination must proof that it is so. Then it is up to the defendant to prove the opposite. Because of this Arbetsdomstolen must take a stand whether which party is more reliable, based on both parties ability to persuade. Regarding the two cases known as the “racist cases”, Arbetsdomstolen put importance on the fact that the working atmosphere was harsh and the dialogues between the employees were tough. Even though it clearly was not considered as wanted by all, Arbetsdomstolen went with the majority and did not consider their behavior as discriminating. This could be an indicator on the fact that the structural discrimination against ethnic minorities and the idea of your own culture as the right one and the alienation against cultures that are “divergent” are deeply rooted even in authorities.   All people no matter where you come from should as the law regulates have the same opportunities and rights. I believe the problem is not with the law itself, but with the people and the structure in society. We have to change the way we alienate foreign cultures and undermine them, your ethnicity doesn’t decide your qualifications.

Quantitative and qualitative data from the 2002 Latino Adolescent Transition Study were used to explore differences in acculturative stress and gang involvement between foreign-born and U.S.-born Latino middle school students. Regression analyses showed significant interactions between discrimination stress and immigration status as well as adaptation stress and immigration status. U.S.-born youths were significantly more likely to be gang-involved if they experienced discrimination stress. They were also less likely to be gang-involved if they experienced high adaptation stress. A minority of primarily foreign-born youths identified economic inequality and prejudicial attitudes as factors that differentiated them from Americans. Those reporting economic inequality were more likely to be gang-involved than those who did not. These findings suggest that the origins of gang involvement could differ between the two immigrant generations. Whereas U.S.-born Latinos may be more negatively affected by discrimination, foreign-born Latinos may be more sensitive to their comparatively low economic status.

This paper analyzes whether there are differences in treatment for Western-Balkan and Arabic sounding names when requesting information about the Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) program by Swedish municipalities. To answer this question, a correspondence test was conducted in which all 290 municipalities in Sweden were contacted via emails from two fictitious inquirers. We were able to gather data on six outcome variables from this correspondence test, which were chosen to measure the time and effort spent on replies to each inquirer. The results suggest that government officials provide differential treatment in favor of a Western-Balkan-sounding name, but that the outcome variables are relatively small. Moreover, we found no strong evidence for whether this differential treatment is due to taste-based or statistical discrimination. The findings in our study highlights potential consequences for immigrants with an Arabic background as limited access to the SFI program could have implications for their integration into the labor market.