Researchers
Abstract:
Ethnic inequalities in health are well-documented, with both a poorer socioeconomic position and exposure to racism leading to poorer health for ethnic minority people. However, there is an emerging literature that suggests that the concentration of ethnic minority people in particular areas may mitigate some of these effects. The main objective of the proposed study is to investigate the associations between residential ethnic density, socioeconomic deprivation, interpersonal ethnic discrimination and health, and the causal pathways that might link these factors. In order to do this, the study will use secondary data analysis of the 2003 and 2005 Home Office Citizenship Surveys, which will be linked to the 2001 Census.
The study will:
- Describe associations between the residential ethnic density of an area and physical and mental health
- Examine whether these relationships vary across ethnic groups and whether they are a consequence of own group density or ethnic minority density generally
- Model pathways linking ethnic density and health, including measures of deprivation, experiences and perceptions of racism, social networks and civic participation
- Explore whether the relationship between ethnic density and health is linear, or whether there is a `threshold´ effect beyond which increasing numbers makes little difference.
This study will use new data and robust analytical approaches to describe the health of ethnic minority groups living in different parts of the UK. Ethnic minority people living in areas with high ethnic density will be compared to their counterparts living in areas of lower proportions of ethnic minority residents, by analysing their health, social support, social networks, civic participation, perceptions of local amenities and experiences of interpersonal racism. This work will enable us to say whether living in an ethnically dense area is likely to be beneficial for health, and why. It will identify the positive, health-promoting aspects of ethnic density as well as any aspects of residence in an ethnically dense area that are harmful to health. The historical reasons for current settlement patterns are complex and varied and patterns are changing. It is important to understand the benefits as well as the downsides to these patterns for ethnic minority groups, who are at a health disadvantage, in order to improve their health and to protect and encourage any health-promoting aspects that are identified.
Department:
Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, UCL and Department of Sociology, University of Manchester
Duration:
January 2008 - January 2010
Grant Type:
Large Research Grant
Publications
Stafford, M., Bécares, L. and Nazroo, J. (forthcoming) Racial
discrimination and health: exploring the possible protective effects
of ethnic density, In Stillwell, J. and van Ham, M. (eds.) Ethnicity
and Integration Understanding Population Trends and Processes, Volume
3. Springer, Dordrecht.
Bécares, L., Nazroo, J. and Stafford (2009) The buffering
effects of ethnic density on experienced racism and health, Health
& Place, 15: 670-678.
Bécares, L., Nazroo, J. and Stafford, M. (2009) The ethnic
density effect on alcohol use among ethnic minority people in the
UK, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, doi:10.1136/jech.2009.087114
Bécares, L., Stafford, M. and Nazroo, J. (2009) Fear of racism,
employment and expected organizational racism: their association with
health, European Journal of Public Health, doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckp071
Stafford, M., Bécares, L. and Nazroo, J. (2009). Objective
and perceived ethnic density and health: findings from a UK general
population survey, American Journal of Epidemiology, 170(4), 484-493.
Presentations
One-day meeting on “Ethnic density” organized by James
Nazroo, Mai Stafford, Kate Pickett, Ed Fieldhouse, Angela Dale and
hosted at the University of Manchester to be held on 16th April 2010.
Title and programme are being prepared.
Bécares, L., Nazroo, J. and Stafford, M. (2009) Ethnic diversity
and social cohesion in the UK, Presentation at the British Society
for Population Sciences, September 10.
Bécares, L., Nazroo, J. and Stafford, M. (2009) Racial discrimination
and health: protective effects of ethnic density, Presentation at
the Royal Geographical Society Annual Conference. August 26.
Stafford,
M., Nazroo, J. and Bécares, L. (2009) Racial discrimination
and health: protective effects of ethnic density, Presentation at
the UPTAP Workshop, University of Leeds, 23-25 March.
Bécares, L., Nazroo, J. and Stafford, M. (2008) Buffering
effect of ethnic density on the association between racism and health,
Presentation at the UCL Epidemiology and Public Health Open House,
January 28. First Prize Winner of Michael Marmot Prize.
Bécares,
L., Nazroo, J. and Stafford, M. (2008) The effect of ethnic density
on health, presentation at the UPTAP/BURISA Joint Workshop, London
City Hall, London, September 26.
Bécares, L., Nazroo, J. and Stafford, M. (2008) The effect
of ethnic density on alcohol use among ethnic minorities in the UK,
Presentation at the British Sociological Association, Medical Sociology
Group 40th Annual Conference, Brighton, September 4-6.
Bécares, L., Nazroo, J. and Stafford, M. (2008) Racial discrimination
and health: exploring the protective effects of ethnic density, presentation
at the European Association of Population Sciences, Barcelona, Spain.
July 9-11.
