Colonial mentality, racism, and depressive symptoms: Asian Indians in the United States.

Abstract

Colonial mentality is one of the most damaging outcomes of colonization where colonizers are perceived as superior compared to the culture, society, and heritage of colonized people (David & Okazaki, 2006a;Martín-Baro ´, 1994). For Asian Indians (AIs), colonial mentality may manifest as cultural shame and inferiority, preference for lighter skin color, discriminating against less-Americanized Indians (e.g., speaking with an Indian accent), and feeling indebted for colonization. The goal of our study was to apply a postcolonial lens to the lived experiences of AIs in the United States to explore how commonly colonial mentality is endorsed among AIs, how group differences affect endorsement of colonial mentality, and the interaction of colonial mentality on the relation between racism-related stress and frequency of depressive symptoms. In a sample of 198 AIs, we found that 32% of the sample endorsed colonial mentality, with significant group differences. Colonial mentality also explained significant variance in racism-related stress and frequency of depressive symptoms. We discuss our findings in light of the continued impact of Indian colonial history and implications for future research. What is the public significance of this article?The present study suggests that the legacy of British colonization in India continues to impact the experiences of Asian Indians in the United States through Colonial Mentality (CM). Differences in generational status, religion, and other demographic diversities affect the endorsement of CM. CM also affects how racism-related stress influences depressive symptoms.

Asian Indians in the United States and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Interventions: A Narrative Literature Review

“…While we can extrapolate estimates for Asian Indians in the U.S. based on studies on Asian Indians living in India or on Asian Americans, the Asian Indian community in the U.S. carries its own unique set of socio-cultural and immigration-related considerations that may influence impacts and prevalence rates of traumatic experiences. Examples of such socio-cultural and immigration-related considerations include prejudicial experiences, racial discrimination, and marginalization (e.g., anti-Muslim sentiment post 9/11, anti-Asian sentiment during the COVID-19 pandemic, “Dot Buster” incidents); stress due to the immigration process; economic stressors (e.g., financial responsibilities for accompanying families, need to send money to family in India); communication and language barriers; acculturation stressors (e.g., cultural shock); colonial mentality; stress due to ethnic identity conflicts; and the lack of knowledge about local healthcare institutions and policies (Chandra et al, 2016; Falicov et al, 2020; Inman, 2006; Inman, Yeh, et al, 2007; Jin et al, in press; Lee & Lu, 1989; Nadimpalli et al, 2016; Nikalje & Çiftçi, 2021; Tewari et al, 2003; Tummala-Narra & Deshpande, 2018; Tummala-Narra et al, 2011). Indeed, experiences of racism and discrimination contribute to poor psychological (Kaduvettoor-Davidson & Inman, 2013) and physical (Utsey et al, 2000) health.…”

Colonial mentality: Manifestations, operations, and psychological implications.

“…Specifically, Utsey et al found that Ghanaians tend to typically express CM in four ways: feelings of shame and inferiority, within-group discrimination, physical characteristics, and colonial debt. Similarly, Nikalje and Çiftçi (2021) found that Asian Indians tend to manifest CM as feeling ashamed and inferior for one's culture, preferring lighter skin color, discriminating against less-Americanized Indians (e.g., speaking with an Indian accent), and feeling indebted for colonization. Among Puerto Ricans, whose colonial experience is quite similar to that of Filipinos (Spanish and American colonialism), Capielo Rosario et al (2019) found that CM is commonly expressed through feelings of inferiority, shame, and embarrassment for being Puerto Rican, discriminating against less-Americanized Puerto Ricans, regarding European physical features as more desirable, and colonial debt.…”

“…They followed this up with the development of the Colonial Mentality Scale (CMS) for Filipino Americans (David & Okazaki, 2006b), which they hoped would spark more psychological research on CM not just among Filipinos but also among other communities with similar experiences of colonialism or oppression. Since then, the CMS has been adapted and used successfully among Ghanaians (Utsey et al, 2014), Puerto Ricans (Capielo Rosario et al, 2019, and Asian Indians (Nikalje & Çiftçi, 2021), making available psychometrically developed measures of CM for different social groups that, in turn, can stimulate even more research on this topic. Beyond the CMS, other literature on CM addresses it as experienced by Samoans (Faaleava, 2020), Mexicans (Miranda, 2011), and Peoples of Color in general (Hal, 2011).…”

“…With regard to their prevalence, studies with different communities (Filipino Americans, Ghanaians, Puerto Ricans, and Asian Indians) consistently find that approximately one-third endorse at least one CM manifestation (Capielo Rosario et al, 2019;David & Okazaki, 2006b;Nikalje & Çiftçi, 2021;Utsey et al, 2014). As prevalent as CM seems to be, however, indications are that CM manifestations are experienced or witnessed even more frequently.…”

Familial critical consciousness socialization: How key family theories can expand racial‐ethnic socialization research among Asian American families

“…Despite its roots in Hinduism and British colonialism on the Indian subcontinent, research suggests that caste oppression persists transnationally in ethnically and religiously diverse South Asia and in the South Asian American diaspora (Gorur & Forscher, 2023;Thapa et al, 2021;Zwick-Maitreyi et al, 2018). This transmission of casteist beliefs may be conflated with cultural socialization about surnames, dietary practices, and parents' friendship and marriage preferences for their children (Gorur & Forscher, 2023;Nikalje & Çiftçi, 2023;Nikalje & Kumar, 2022;Sharma & Swami, 2022). Such possibilities underscore the importance of socializing critical consciousness, which can enable family members to understand the interplay between culture and systems of power and actively negotiate their compliance or opposition to oppressive intergenerational norms.…”