The double-edged sword of identification. The divergent effects of identification on acculturation stress among Ukrainian immigrants in Poland

Bilewicz, Michał; Skrodzka, Magdalena; Olko, Justyna; Lewińska, Tetyana

doi:10.1016/j.ijintrel.2021.06.009

Cited by 13 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The results obtained in this study contribute to our understanding of group identity as having separate components with different consequences for individuals' cognition, emotions, and behaviors. In line with other studies (Bilewicz & Wo ´jcik, 2010;Bilewicz et al, 2021;Bombay et al, 2010Bombay et al, , 2013, we propose that high group centrality be considered a risk factor in anxiety, whereas strong group ties act as a protective factor against anxious responses to epidemic illnesses. This might have some obvious applied consequences.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…A study among Aboriginal people in Canada found high ingroup centrality to cause anxious appraisals of potential future acts of discrimination (Bombay et al, 2013). In a similar vein, studies among two groups of Ukrainian immigrants in Poland showed that higher ingroup centrality was related to higher levels of acculturation stress associated with discrimination, intercultural relations, cultural isolation, language skills, and work challenges; whereas stronger ingroup ties and more positive ingroup affect reduced acculturation stress in most of these domains (Bilewicz et al, 2021).…”

Section: How Different Aspects Of Identification Affectmentioning

confidence: 94%

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Paradoxical effects of ethnic identification on threat and anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic. A study of ethnic minority and immigrant groups.

Bilewicz¹,

Mirucka²,

Olko³

2022

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

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Studies based on the "social cure" hypothesis suggest the positive role of strong social identifications for well-being and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the three-factorial model of identification that distinguishes ingroup centrality, ingroup affect, and ingroup ties as separate aspects of group identification, we propose that their impact on COVID-19-related stress and anxiety would be more complex. In a set of three studies carried out among ethnic minorities in Poland (Lemkos, Kashubs, and Silesians) and a study of a large immigrant group (Ukrainians in Poland), we found that higher levels of ingroup centrality generate more COVID-19-related threats and higher levels of anxiety, whereas ingroup ties tend to reduce anxiety during the pandemic. Based on this evidence we propose that the more exclusive aspects of identification (ingroup centrality) pose a risk to mental health during the time of the pandemic, whereas the more binding ones (ingroup ties) serve as a true "social cure." Public Policy Relevance StatementEthnic minorities and immigrants are particularly vulnerable to mental health issues in times of COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a large study of immigrant and minority, we propose that strong sense of interconnectedness (ingroup ties) among members of minority and immigrant groups can effectively reduce levels of stress and anxiety experienced in times of pandemic. This finding can inform policies and actions of key stakeholders dealing with diversity in times global health crises. aaa P eople from ethnic minorities and immigrant backgrounds were of particular risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. British studies found that increases in death rates attributed to COVID-19 were higher among Black and Asian ethnic minorities than among the white majority, and that people of Bangladeshi, Chinese, Indian, and Pakistani origins had a significantly higher risk of death than white British citizens (Ayoubkhani et al., 2021;Iacobucci, 2020;Mathur et al., 2021). At the same time, research has shown higher levels of vaccine hesitancy among ethnic minorities, as compared to the white majority (Kadambari & Vanderslott, 2021;Robertson et al., 2021).Early studies in East Asia have already confirmed that immigrant groups are particularly vulnerable to mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. A study assessing the levels of anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea found that 47.9% of immigrants suffered from severe anxiety disorder, as compared to 29.7% of native Koreans (Acharya et al., 2021). Ethnic minorities are also considered a high risk group in terms of mental health during the pandemic. Members of marginalized racial and/or ethnic minorities faced additional stressors during the health crisis, such as ethnic prejudice and discrimination related to the outbreak, as well as the exacerbation of preexisting health disparities, which combined to This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.This article is intended solely for...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: How Different Aspects Of Identification Affectmentioning

confidence: 94%

Paradoxical effects of ethnic identification on threat and anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic. A study of ethnic minority and immigrant groups.

Bilewicz¹,

Mirucka²,

Olko³

2022

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

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“…Another point might be that the people who possess the mental strength to migrate have a greater sense of coherence, resourcefulness and are more resilient [ 75 , 76 ], so that their responses are more positive. Paradoxically, increasing stigmatization may also enhance bonds within a group of migrants, especially those speaking the same language, and thus reduce the level of stress associated with acculturation [ 77 ]. For the LGBT+ group, being in a more tolerant place than their homeland could also be a relief from some personal burdens, for example by making it easier to form new relationships without a fear of exposure to harassment, as could be the case in their country of origin [ 28 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the LGBT+ group, being in a more tolerant place than their homeland could also be a relief from some personal burdens, for example by making it easier to form new relationships without a fear of exposure to harassment, as could be the case in their country of origin [ 28 ]. The above should be considered in the context of three distinct dimensions of social identification: centrality (the importance of the group to the self), ingroup affect (the value ascribed to being a member of the group) and ingroup ties (attachment to other members of the group) [ 77 , 78 ]. Physical and mental health outcomes are significantly associated with social identification as a positive predictor of group-derived efficacy and individual self-efficacy [ 79 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceived Stress Levels among Ukrainian Migrant and LGBT+ Minorities in Poland during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Michalski

Brosz

Stępień

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, immigrant status and being a member of the LGBT+ community are all independent factors associated with increased stress levels. Few studies provide more complex analysis on this issue, and there has been no research on the cumulative burden of perceived stress that people belonging to both minorities experience in the current epidemiological situation. The aim of this study was to assess the ability to deal with an external situation during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland in the following groups with different stress levels (total sample n = 370): Polish heterosexual men (n = 202), heterosexual men from Ukraine (n = 131) and homo- and bisexual men (men who have sex with men—MSM) from Ukraine (n = 37). A Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was used. The analysis of the survey did not show statistically significant differences between the three study groups in the general level of perceived stress (24.71, 24.77 and 26.49 points, respectively, p = 0.551), but it revealed numerous differences in coping with various aspects of everyday functioning between these groups. Negative assessment of one’s own health proved to be the main factor negatively affecting the level of perceived stress, however specific health risks, medical history or the participants’ previous experience have not been taken into account in the study. Our research shows differences in the needs, resources and methods of coping with stress between men who are Polish citizens and migrants from Ukraine, both heterosexual and belonging to the MSM group. Proper identification and addressing of these needs, taking into account different availability of health services, could be the responsibility of NGOs or insurance providers. This should result in the reduction of mental health burdens and the risk of developing serious mental disorders, and consequently in better functioning of persons belonging to minorities and in a reduced burden on the health care system.

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“…Among AIDS patients' ingroup centrality was negatively related to self‐efficacy, while ingroup ties were positively related to self‐efficacy (Harris et al, 2011). Studies of Ukrainian immigrants in Poland showed that strong ingroup ties are linked to lower acculturation stress (Bilewicz et al, 2021) and lower levels of anxiety in stressful situations (Bilewicz et al, 2022), whereas other aspects of identity did not have such positive role. Studies analyzing intergroup relations (Obst et al, 2011) found that ingroup centrality leads to greater intergroup discrimination, whereas ingroup ties and affect enhance collective self‐esteem without causing damage to intergroup relations.…”

Section: Three Facets Of Superordinate Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of moral exemplars awareness on common ingroup identification and reconciliation in post‐genocide Rwanda

Atete,

Bilewicz

2023

Conflict Resolution Qtrly

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Moral exemplars (Imena) play an important part in commemorative practices and reconciliation in post‐genocide Rwanda. Acknowledging the essential role of moral exemplars in reconciliation and intergroup contact in post‐conflict setting, we aimed at examining the effects of exposure to moral‐exemplars on people's attitudes toward reconciliation and identification with superordinate national category in Rwanda. A study of 168 young Rwandans showed that higher awareness of moral exemplars during genocide was related to stronger ingroup ties with other ingroup members and higher centrality of national identification. Strong ingroup ties significantly mediated the effects of moral exemplars awareness on reconciliation attitudes. This shows that ties with other members of common national ingroup, as well as the centrality of superordinate categories could be effective means for reconciliation after genocide.

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The double-edged sword of identification. The divergent effects of identification on acculturation stress among Ukrainian immigrants in Poland

Cited by 13 publications

References 37 publications

Paradoxical effects of ethnic identification on threat and anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic. A study of ethnic minority and immigrant groups.

Paradoxical effects of ethnic identification on threat and anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic. A study of ethnic minority and immigrant groups.

Perceived Stress Levels among Ukrainian Migrant and LGBT+ Minorities in Poland during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The effects of moral exemplars awareness on common ingroup identification and reconciliation in post‐genocide Rwanda

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