Recent data indicates that 49% of Dutch youth aged 12 to 25 reported frequent stress in the past month. Growing evidence suggests that childhood stress has concerning long-term effects on mental...Show moreRecent data indicates that 49% of Dutch youth aged 12 to 25 reported frequent stress in the past month. Growing evidence suggests that childhood stress has concerning long-term effects on mental and physical health due to its negative effects on brain development and the stress network. Additionally, the increasing diversity in Dutch society underscores the importance of understanding stress and its effects, especially in vulnerable groups like children with a migration background. Previous research, mostly among adults and adolescents, shows inconsistent findings on the role of ethnicity in stress among children. This study examines the relationship between the ethnic (migration) backgrounds of students in grades 7 and 8 in Dutch primary schools and their current stress levels, perceptions of stressors, and coping strategies. The study included 92 students from primary schools in the Randstad area. Employing a cross-sectional research design, measurement instruments comprised self-report questionnaires, including the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire-Short (ASQ-S) for stress assessment, the Bicultural Stress Scale for cultural stressors, and the Brief-COPE for coping strategies. Analysis showed significant differences in stress levels, with non-Western students reporting higher overall stress levels and social-cultural stressors than Western peers. However, non-Western students did not employ more problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidance coping strategies than their Western peers. Overall, non-Western students experienced significantly higher stress levels, reported more socio-cultural stressors, but did not employ more coping strategies compared to their Western counterparts. Various factors, including acculturation processes, parental support, socio-economic status, and cultural conflicts, may contribute to these disparities. Understanding these findings, can provide insights for effective psychosocial support and culturally sensitive interventions for non-Western students. By recognizing their specific stress experiences, caregivers and schools can develop and implement targeted interventions that promote their well-being.Show less
The growing tide of nationalism in the People's Republic of China had increased the need to gain insight into discourses around national identity. This thesis analyses the Chinese self through its...Show moreThe growing tide of nationalism in the People's Republic of China had increased the need to gain insight into discourses around national identity. This thesis analyses the Chinese self through its depiction in the CCTV-series "Foreigner in China". Through its depiction of both foreigners and minority ethnicities living in the PRC and its implicit comparison to the Chinese 'self', the series appears to align closely to the division of traits as originally described in Said's "Orientalism". The Chinese self, therefore, is constructed by mirroring itself both with an Occidental other, the foreigner, and an Oriental other, the minorities depicted in the series.Show less
As police use of force becomes a more politicised issue in the world, it is important not only to investigate the causes but also to look at the public opinion towards it. In this study, a survey...Show moreAs police use of force becomes a more politicised issue in the world, it is important not only to investigate the causes but also to look at the public opinion towards it. In this study, a survey was conducted in order to determine whether the perceived ethnicity of a victim of police violence has an effect on the acceptance of police violence by the general public. After analysing the data that was obtained from the said survey, by means of a spearman’s correlation, a one-way ANOVA, and binary logistics regression analysis, the conclusion can be reached that the ethnicity of the victim matters strongly in the acceptance of police violence by the general public far more so than the perceived prevalence of violence against ethnic minorities or the ethnicity of the member of the public themselves. What this means for practitioners is that organisational biases, in particular, need to be tackled in order to alleviate situations like this from happening.Show less
During the partition, more than twelve million people crossed the border to reach Pakistan or India, soon communal violence roared in which women, out of revenge and hatred, became the victim of...Show moreDuring the partition, more than twelve million people crossed the border to reach Pakistan or India, soon communal violence roared in which women, out of revenge and hatred, became the victim of sexual violence at the hands of the other ethnic community. One of the major issues plaguing women was the widespread abductions of women by men from the other ethnic community in which many women were stuck on the other side of the border. Soon after, an interdominion agreement was drafted to recover abducted women from Pakistan to India and vice versa. In 1949 this agreement was discussed again to be renewed and possibly amended. The Constituent Assembly transcript of this debate that lasted for four days has been used to investigate through critical discourse analysis which roles of women within ethnicity are reproduced and to what extent. This thesis has used the framework from Anthias and Yuval-Davis to define those roles. Women's roles as boundaries, signifiers of difference, and biological reproducers become highly visible in the debate and most of all point to one issue: the lack of autonomy and representation of the voices of abducted women. Moreover, while the distinct roles of Anthias and Yuval-Davis are helpful, they lack a relational approach to the prescribed roles of women and men.Show less
More than a quarter of the Dutch society claim to have experienced discrimination. Research shows that prejudice and discrimination have many negative effects on both individuals and society. In...Show moreMore than a quarter of the Dutch society claim to have experienced discrimination. Research shows that prejudice and discrimination have many negative effects on both individuals and society. In order to avoid these negative effects, it is important to investigate the underlying mechanisms of prejudice and discrimination. According to existing literature, social categorization is a factor associated with the emergence of discrimination and prejudice. Social categorization in young children is influenced by their environment, for example by (ethnic) socialization of parents. The present study examined whether there was a difference between ethnic socialization in the majority group and the minority group. This was also examined for social categorization based on ethnicity for these two groups. In addition, it was examined whether there was a relationship between ethnic socialization of the mother and social categorization based on the ethnicity of the child. Finally, it was examined whether the ethnicity of the child was a moderator for the relationship between ethnic socialization and social categorization based on ethnicity. Mother's ethnic socialization was measured by a picture book task. Social categorization was measured by the child's segregation preference through a grouping task. The study was conducted in mother-child pairs from the majority group (White-Dutch) and the minority group (Turkish-Dutch and Afro-Dutch). Two independent t-tests showed that there were no differences. No significant difference in ethnic socialization between the majority and minority groups was found. Also, no significant difference in social categorization based on ethnicity was found between the majority and minority groups. A simple regression showed that there was no significant relationship between ethnic socialization and social categorization based on ethnicity. Finally, no significant moderation effect of ethnicity was found. For further research it is advised to extend the measurement method for ethnic socialization and social categorization, so that more detailed measurements can be done.Show less
Background: Social-emotional skills are pivotal for children’s intra- and interpersonal well-being. Social-emotional learning (SEL) interventions have been shown to improve these skills, with self...Show moreBackground: Social-emotional skills are pivotal for children’s intra- and interpersonal well-being. Social-emotional learning (SEL) interventions have been shown to improve these skills, with self-awareness (SA) being the most influential intervention component. However, these interventions apply varying conceptualizations and operationalizations of SA. Therefore, the defining characteristics of SA interventions and their effect on children’s well-being are unknown. Identifying these could help educators, policy makers and researchers to optimise content and accessibility of SA intervention to the benefit of children’s mental health. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to analyse the characteristics and effectiveness of currently available interventions targeting SA in children, and to examine children’s cultural background as potential moderator. Method: Eight electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, EMCARE, ERIC, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science and Academic Search Premier) were searched for intervention studies investigating SA interventions in September 2019. Children’s SA was the primary outcome of interest, positive and negative mental health were the secondary. Of 7050 identified studies, 42 were included in the systematic review and 29 in the meta-analysis. Results: It was found that SA interventions had a small to moderate effect on children’s SA (g = 0.31 (0.05), 95% CI [0.21, 0.40], p < .001). Furthermore, they had a positive effect on children’s mental health. Cultural background did not significantly moderate SA intervention effectiveness. There was no evidence for publication bias. Conclusion: Overall, interventions targeting SA can positively influence the level of SA and mental health in children irrespective of their cultural backgrounds.Show less
There are many artists in the Korean music industry, but black-Korean singers are not often represented thus far. With an increase in multicultural families in South Korea, this group of people is...Show moreThere are many artists in the Korean music industry, but black-Korean singers are not often represented thus far. With an increase in multicultural families in South Korea, this group of people is likely to grow as well in the near future. In order to explore the role of black-Korean individuals in a Korean context, this thesis researched singer Insooni and her ethnic identity development. Phinney’s ethnic identity model was used to assess how Insooni’s identity likely developed throughout her career as a singer. Phinney’s research focused on two main factors called “exploration” and commitment”. Depending on a high or low level for both factors, this results in four possible identity stages: diffusion, moratorium, foreclosure and achievement. This thesis concluded that Insooni likely went through a dynamic development process, described as such by Phinney. The singer may have shown more interest in her Korean ethnicity at first, but as time went on, her exploration and commitment levels for both her Korean and African-American identity increased, which likely resulted in a multi-ethnic identity. This paper offered more insight on the topic of black-Korean individuals and their identity in Korean society.Show less
Research master thesis | African Studies (research) (MA)
open access
The UN Sustainable Development Goals acknowledge ‘that all cultures (…) are crucial enablers of sustainable development’. In academic literature on Africa, however, cultural diversity is analysed...Show moreThe UN Sustainable Development Goals acknowledge ‘that all cultures (…) are crucial enablers of sustainable development’. In academic literature on Africa, however, cultural diversity is analysed as a problem, rather than as an enabler. Africa is either seen as one culturally homogeneous whole or as incredibly diverse and fragmented – there seems to be nothing in-between. Therefore, the picture is incomplete at best. Yet information on culture is used as the basis for assertions on Africa and its problems in economic and other areas. This thesis questions both visions of African cultures, using Vansina’s theory on the autonomy of cultural traditions as its starting point. Methodically, it uses an approach developed in cross-cultural psychology. Cultures are described here as value systems that serve as common points of reference to peoples. Using the cultural dimensions approach of Hofstede and Minkov a new exploratory analysis has been made of current self-perceptions of Africans, using data from the World Values and Afrobarometer surveys. This leads to information on differences and similarities in cultural values between more than 200 ethnolinguistic groups from over 30 African countries. The information has been partly triangulated through Focus Group Discussions in Ghana and in Southern Africa and by comparing information from those countries with ethnographic and other literature. The thesis sheds new light on cultural differences and similarities in Africa. It shows that there are considerable cultural differences within Africa; not all cultures in Africa are equally ‘collectivist’, for example. The essentially Eurocentric shorthand method of equating language with culture cannot be used in Africa: in many cases, cultural areas share different languages; in other cases, one language may be shared by people with different cultures. The thesis shows that such situations may be relatively common in Africa. The thesis calls for a new perspective on African identities and draws attention to the need for rebuilding cultural autonomy, based in African languages.Show less
When the ruling Alliance-coalition of Malaysia suffered a painful defeat in the 1969 general elections, ethnic riots erupted in the streets of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital city. These riots...Show moreWhen the ruling Alliance-coalition of Malaysia suffered a painful defeat in the 1969 general elections, ethnic riots erupted in the streets of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital city. These riots proved a watershed moment in the history of Malaysia, since they convinced the country’s political leaders that more should be done for Malay Malaysians in order to prevent similar events from occurring in the future. For this reason, an affirmative action programme called the New Economic Policy (NEP) was adopted in 1971. As a consequence of the NEP, Malay entrepreneurs obtained a considerable stake in the domestic economy. The thesis analyses whether the favourable competitive position that accrued to Malay entrepreneurs under the NEP was historically unique. It addresses the following research question: to what extent did changes in the conditions for the development of entrepreneurship of varying ethnic origin during the period 1920-1970 anticipate the New Economic Policy? I argue that, although the favourable conditions facing Malay Malaysian entrepreneurs under the NEP were historically unprecedented, positive discrimination of Malays in government policies has deep historical roots. Initially such policies were fairly narrow in scope, gradually broadening as time went by. By the second half of the 1960s the policy climate already portrayed many of the features that would come to characterize the NEP.Show less
There is considerable research evidence of an existing relationship between school engagement and school dropout. Several factors have been found to be related to the school engagement of children....Show moreThere is considerable research evidence of an existing relationship between school engagement and school dropout. Several factors have been found to be related to the school engagement of children. The current study assessed the relationship between school engagement and ethnicity, parental monitoring, parental involvement and self-esteem. The research sample consisted of 105 Turkish students (57% female) and 172 native Dutch students (41% female). The School Engagement Scale was used to test student’s school engagement. The results show that Turkish students have a higher school engagement. No relationship was found between parental monitoring and school engagement. Furthermore parental involvement was found to be a moderator in the relationship between self-esteem en school engagement for the Dutch students. These findings suggest that parental factors are positively related to school engagement and that this relationship may differ between cultural groups. For follow-up research it is important to determine other factors that may be related to school engagement (e.g. peers, school culture, quality of teachers) to create a better understanding of school engagement and thus of the way school dropout can be prevented.Show less
Research master thesis | Arts and Culture (research) (MA)
open access
This thesis concerns the Afro-Brazilian cult of Candomblé, focusing on the work of Pierre Verger. The research presents Candomblé as a cultural-religious practice, which is the result of a cross...Show moreThis thesis concerns the Afro-Brazilian cult of Candomblé, focusing on the work of Pierre Verger. The research presents Candomblé as a cultural-religious practice, which is the result of a cross-cultural exchange, referring to the photography and discourse of Pierre Verger and other authors, such as Reginaldo Prandi, Roger Bastide and Babatunde Lawal. This work introduces Pierre Verger’s intimate relationship with Candomblé and the north-eastern Brazilian state of Bahia. The thesis reviews the history and constitution of Candomblé in the slave trade context of colonialism, its Yoruba roots, mythology, public ritual and initiation rite. Finally, the thesis attempts to frame Candomblé in an art historical perspective through the Yoruba metaphor of artistic creativity and the concept of orí.Show less
This research aims to investigate the effects of gender and ethnicity on language use and how social contexts (e.g. in- and intragroups) affect the way people express their social identies with...Show moreThis research aims to investigate the effects of gender and ethnicity on language use and how social contexts (e.g. in- and intragroups) affect the way people express their social identies with respect to their gender and ethnicity. This research was inspired by Brewer's Optimal Distinctiveness theory (1991), Brown & Levinson's Politeness theory (1978), West & Zimmerman's theory on 'Doing Gender' (1987) and Giles' Communication Accommodation theory (1979).Show less
The present study examined the relationship between parental monitoring, parental emotional support, ethnicity and school engagement among adolescents from pre-vocational secondary education (VMBO)...Show moreThe present study examined the relationship between parental monitoring, parental emotional support, ethnicity and school engagement among adolescents from pre-vocational secondary education (VMBO). Participants in the study were 173 Dutch (95 boys and 78 girls) and 155 Moroccan/Turkish (73 boys and 78 girls) youngsters with a mean age of 14.72 years (SD = 1.55, range: 12-18). The independent t-test revealed that immigrant students are more school engaged than native students. Both for native and immigrant youngsters, parental emotional support was positively associated with school engagement. Neither for national, nor for immigrant students a significant relationship was found between parental monitoring and school engagement. Furthermore no interaction effect was found between parental monitoring and parental emotional support on school engagement. Results showed ethnicity is an important predictor of school engagement.Show less
