Diversity and Stress

Question 1

Membership in a minority group is frequently associated with…

Answer 1

Poorer health, lower education, lower socioeconomic status, higher unemployment, and an atypical family structure

Question 2

Which is the largest minority group in the United States?

Answer 2

Hispanics

Question 3

How would you define minority?

Answer 3

A relatively small group of people, especially one commonly discriminated against in a community, society, or nation, differing from others in race, religion, language, or political persuasion.

Question 4

Race?

Answer 4

Race distinguishes people by a variety of variables such as physical traits (e.g. hair, eyes, skin color), blood types, genetic patterns, and inherited characteristics unique to a population.

Question 5

Ethnicity?

Answer 5

Refers to a group having a common heritage as distinguished by customs, characteristics, language, and a common history.

Question 6

What are the three primary racial divisions?

Answer 6

Caucasoid, Negroid, and Mongoloid

Question 7

According to the authors, minority populations include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Sexual orientation and political orientation can also be included.

Answer 7

1. African Americans
2. Hispanics
3. Asian Americans
4. Native Americans
5. Elderly
6. People with disabilities

Question 8

What contributions have the Asian American community made?

Answer 8

According to the article, Asian Americans have contributed by introducing acupuncture as a mainstream practice.

Question 9

What contributions have Native Americans made?

Answer 9

They have contributed by helping us understand the concept of holism, and helped us recognize that health and harmony are very important.

Question 10

What contributions have Latinos made?

Answer 10

According to the article, Latinos have demonstrated to the rest of us the value of social and family support.

Question 11

What contributions have African Americans made?

Answer 11

They placed value on enjoying one’s life through activities such as sports, the arts, and social interactions.

Question 12

What stressors have been found particularly higher in minorities than for white adults?

Answer 12

The stressors were money, fear of crime or violence, their spouse or partner, and mistreatment of a family member for race or cultural reasons.

Question 13

What is acculturation?

Answer 13

Acculturation is a process in which members of one cultural group adopt the beliefs and behaviors of another group.

Question 14

What is assimilation?

Answer 14

Assimilation is a term referring to another part of the adaption process initially proposed by Jean Piaget. Through assimilation, we take in new information or experiences and incorporate them into our existing ideas.

Question 15

Immigrants experience high levels of stress which result in higher blood pressure, mental illness, and higher rates of attempted suicide when compared with the population in their country of origin. What are some of their adaptive stressors?

Answer 15

Language barriers; the need to work long hours to support a family, necessitating being away from the family, and the supervision and upbringing of children.

Question 16

Why do children usually acculturate faster than their parents?

Answer 16

Their original culture is not as ingrained, and children tend to be more malleable in general.

Question 17

What are hate crimes?

Answer 17

A subset of crimes that are against people on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion.

Question 18

What are some disadvantages that people who have disabilities experience?

Answer 18

They have higher rates of anxiety, pain, sleepiness, and days of depression than others, fewer days of vitality, lower rates of physical activity, and higher rates of obesity.

Question 19

What are some disadvantages that gay and lesbian Americans experience?

Answer 19

They have higher rates of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections; higher rates of substance abuse, depression, and suicide; and lesbians have higher rates of smoking, obesity, alcohol abuse, and stress than heterosexual women.

Question 20

What is the rate of infant mortality in minority groups?

Answer 20

In the United States, the infant mortality rate was 6.9 deaths per 100 live births in 2000.

Question 21

Which minority group has the highest suicide rate?

Answer 21

Native Americans

Question 22

Which group is the fastest growing segment of our homeless population?

Answer 22

African Americans

Question 23

What are the main factors responsible for homelessness?

Answer 23

Domestic violence and lack of employment or minimum wage jobs

Question 24

Are elders highly regarded in the United States?

Answer 24

No.