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

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2073386
AutoresJiyeong Seo (0009-0008-2317-5256, University College London, autor de correspondencia), Stephen Jivraj (0000-0001-5751-983X, University College London)
Año2025
Volumen12
Número4
Páginas2560-2581
Fecha de publicación2025-08-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2196-8837 • E-ISSN: 2197-3792
EditorialSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s40615-024-02071-4
PMID39042334
OpenAlexW4400915187
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias citadas48

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

Ethnic group · Mental health · Psychiatry · Sociology · Anthropology · Health disparities and outcomes · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research