Introduction
The past 14 months have been especially difficult. The pandemic, social, and political unrest have nearly exhausted our collective abilities to heal, survive, and thrive. In the midst of it all, please know that we at JUEMP are doing our best to persevere; and we wish you all the very best as you work to do the same.
Now, we are relieved to present Volume 5 of The Journal of Undergraduate Ethnic Minority Psychology (JUEMP). This volume features papers that are first-authored by students from Clark Atlanta University (GA, USA), The University of North Georgia (GA, USA), and Trinity College (CT, USA). This volume features data from the United States of America, Ghana, and China. The following people graciously volunteered as professional and student reviewers for this volume:
| Reviewers for Volume 5 | Affiliations |
| Dr. Albee Mendoza | Wesley College |
| Mr. Shantay Mines, Ed.S., LMFT | Department of Veteran Affairs |
| Ben Barnett (Student Reviewer) | John Brown University |
| Brian Gray (Student Reviewer) | UC San Diego |
| Yang Lu (Student Reviewer) | UC San Diego |
| Anthoni Wardlaw (Student Reviewer) | Alabama State University |
Thank you, everyone. The goal of JUEMP is to publish up-to-date, high-quality, and original research papers that are first-authoured by undergraduate students. Please know that co-authours may be students or non-students (e.g., faculty, community members, etc.). We encourage and invite you to submit, either individually or collaboratively, your manuscripts for consideration. We also encourage and invite you to volunteer as a reviewer. Best wishes and thank you in advance for your interest and support of The Journal of Undergraduate Ethnic Minority Psychology.
Sincerely,
Dr. D. Lisa Cothran, Editor
Volume 5
Triche, D., & Talpade, M. (2020). An exploration of the psychosocial behaviors of Ghanaian males. Journal of Undergraduate Ethnic Minority Psychology, 5, 1-8. (link to pdf file)
JUEMP_Triche_Talpade_2020Download
Abstract: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and describe the experience of Ghanaian males and their psychosocial behaviors in the Ghanaian culture. Previous research in the South African and American culture reveals that in the 21st century, there are changes in the gender roles, as well as in the father figure involvement in the American culture (Lamb, 2000). In Africa however, the roles are traditionally gender specific (Lamb, 2000). The traditional family dynamics in comparison to the American dynamics may play a role in the ‘masculinity’ of the male child. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore and describe the psychosocial behaviors of males in the Ghanaian culture, specifically, the role of a father/fatherhood figure in shaping the masculinity of the child, which has not been explored yet. Participants were 12 young adults (8 females, 4 male). The data collection method included hosting focus groups at 2 universities in Ghana, Africa. One of the focus groups included 3 undergraduate students, a professor, and a local business owner in Accra, Ghana, While the second focus group included graduate students in Cape Coast, Ghana. Atlas Ti was used for the data analyses and the following themes were identified: meaning of a father, relationships with fathers, domestic responsibilities, patriarchal hierarchy in society, meaning of masculinity, important male figures, and male interactions in society. There were differences between the responses of participants in the urban (Accra) and rural (Cape Coast) areas. Validation strategies included bracketing and rich thick descriptions. Implications of the results for future studies include further explorations of experiences from males in the global African diaspora. Such an exploration can be beneficial for introducing culturally relevant counseling and training as well as for developing a worldview about fatherhood across generations through the lens of an African American male.
Hernandez, T., & Dawson, B. (2020). Acculturative Stress, Mental Health, and Academic Engagement of Rural Young Adult Hispanic Immigrants. Journal of Undergraduate Ethnic Minority Psychology, 5, 9-16. (link to pdf file)
JUEMP_Hernandez_Dawson_2020Download
Abstract: Hispanics are the largest minority population in the United States today, and the numbers are rising. However, so is the amount of discrimination toward the Hispanic population, and this discrimination often takes a toll on minorities. The present study examined the levels of acculturative stress and its effect on internalizing symptoms (anxiety and depression) and academic engagement. Participants included 209 rural area college students, which were comprised of 140 Caucasian Americans, 50 Hispanics, and 19 students from other racial backgrounds (African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian, Other). We compiled various scales measuring academic engagement, depression, anxiety, and academic engagement into an online survey. Results indicated that Hispanics experience significant amounts of acculturative stress, and this acculturative stress was a significant predictor of anxiety and depression for these students. Additionally, Hispanic students showed a significantly higher level of depression than their Caucasian counterparts. Lastly, the study found that academic engagement was significantly predicted by depression for Hispanic and Caucasian students and acculturative stress for all students overall. These findings suggest that Hispanic immigrant students in rural areas are vulnerable to mental health problems and would benefit from institutional efforts to support wellness and academic engagement.
Zhu, Y., & Holt, L. (2020). Effects of Education and Cultural Beliefs on Chinese College Students’ Perceptions of Mental Illness Stigma. Journal of Undergraduate Ethnic Minority Psychology, 5, 17-26. (link to pdf file)
JUEMP_Zhu_and_Holt_2020rDownload
Abstract: This cross-cultural analysis explored Chinese college students’ attitudes towards people with mental illness. Students (N = 301) from a comprehensive university on the east coast of China completed an online survey on their attitudes towards people with one of four mental illnesses: major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia, alcohol use disorder (AUD), or gambling disorder. The results showed that Chinese young adults with more education endorsed more social acceptance towards people with MDD but less acceptance towards those with schizophrenia, AUD, or gambling disorder. On the other hand, students who had taken psychology, neuroscience, or other related courses preferred more social distance from individuals with these disorders. This result may be due to the respondents’ biogenetic attribution to psychological problems. Moreover, consistent with Corrigan et al.’s (2003) stigma path model, participants who felt pity towards people with mental illness were more accepting of them. By contrast, those who expressed anger, fear, or avoidance expressed a desire for more social distance. Sex and age were not associated with participants’ attitudes towards people with mental illness. In summation, this pilot study replicates results from Western samples, underscoring the need to understand how mental health issues are regarded by people from different cultural and societal backgrounds. Future research should continue to explore stigma related to mental illness in Chinese society.