Search Results (2,083)

After decades of decline, Detroit has begun advocating for immigrant inclusion as a regional revitalization strategy. Yet, some migrants do not share the city’s enthusiasm. Chaldean Iraqis, for instance, tend to underscore their distinctiveness from the city and its residents. Nevertheless, their insistence on difference seems spatially specific. Drawing on ethnographic observations in and around Chaldean community organizations in metro Detroit, as well as a sociological discourse analysis of urban policy documents, this paper traces newcomers and the city’s mutually constitutive nature of identity formation. Moreover, I show how community members strategically link their collective memories from Iraq to those of Southeast Michigan, resulting in highly complex place-identity projects. The carefully curated public narrative, in turn, has real consequences for Detroit’s social fabric, reproducing, and challenging Detroit’s own regional identity. Theoretically, the findings point to the limitations of a one-dimensional, spatially bounded, and temporally delimited notion of identity formation. Empirically, Chaldeans’ identity formation highlights the heterogeneity in newcomers’ identity construction, one that differs from that of other co-nationals. Full article

Black Canadians are one of the fastest-growing groups in Canada, with 59% of this population comprising immigrants. Ongoing systemic racism and discrimination have serious consequences for the mental health of Black Canadians. While research and policy efforts to address the mental health needs of this population are ongoing, a greater understanding of the healing practices relevant to this diverse population is needed. This scoping review synthesized and discussed key features of culturally inclusive, affirming, and contextually relevant approaches and practices for mental health care and healing with Black Canadians, as well as identified limitations and gaps in the current research. This study followed the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews and conducted a search in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, SocINDEX, CINAHL, Sociological Abstracts, and Global Health in October 2023. A total of 34 articles met the inclusion criteria. The review identified that most studies were conducted in one Canadian province (i.e., Ontario) and involved diverse perspectives, including service users and providers. The thematic review of articles revealed limited research regarding specific interventions, but identified many commonly reported features of culturally and contextually relevant approaches to mental health care and healing for Black Canadians that broaden the scope of mental health care beyond Euro-Western clinical models, including taking a holistic and empowerment-based approach, engaging in culturally affirming care, a social justice approach, community-centred and collaborative healing, and the necessity of practitioner education. Recommendations for practice, policy, education, and research are provided to support more inclusive and responsive mental health care systems for Black Canadians. Full article

Ireland, historically a country of emigration, has transformed into a hub of immigration. Today, over 200 languages are spoken among its 5.25 million residents, with approximately 750,000 individuals speaking a language other than English or Irish at home. This growing linguistic diversity is increasingly reflected in Irish primary classrooms, where teachers are called upon to support students from a wide range of linguistic and cultural backgrounds). In response, Teaching English as an Additional Language (EAL) modules have expanded across initial teacher education (ITE) programs in Ireland. This study examines over two decades of teacher development initiatives, tracing a shift from an earlier bilingual model—where multilingualism was viewed primarily as second language acquisition—to a more expansive, European-informed vision of plurilingualism. Drawing on recommendations for reflexive, linguistically and culturally responsive education, this research adopts an insider/outsider discursive case study approach to explore student teachers’ preparedness to support multilingual learners in Irish primary schools. Conducted through a collaboration between an Irish teacher educator/module coordinator and an intercultural education specialist, this study employs reflexive thematic analysis) of student teachers’ self-reports from a twelve-week elective module on linguistic and cultural diversity within a Primary Bachelor of Education program. Data were drawn from surveys (n = 35) across three module iterations in 2019, 2021, and 2023. Findings indicate student teachers’ growing awareness of language teaching strategies and resources, developing positive orientations toward inclusive and plurilingual pedagogy, and emerging skills in professional collaboration. However, areas for further development include strengthening agency in navigating real-world multilingual teaching scenarios and embedding deeper reflexivity around linguistic identities, integrating students’ home language and intercultural learning. The paper concludes with recommendations to expand access to language teaching resources for diverse student profiles and support collaborative, shared EAL leadership through professional learning communities as part of teacher education reform. Full article

In recent years, migratory movements have increased. This study aimed to compare tuberculosis cases in migrant and autochthonous patients. We conducted a retrospective analytical cohort study of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis in the Elda Health District (Alicante, Spain) between 2013 and 2023. Of the 98 patients analyzed, 28 (29.6%) were migrants, predominantly male (65%), with a mean age of 35.6 years. Pulmonary tuberculosis was present in 82% of patients in both groups, and nine cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis were identified. No significant differences were observed between groups in treatment cure rates, mortality, or hospitalization. Unfavourable outcomes—a composite endpoint comprising mortality, treatment failure, and loss to follow-up—were more frequent in males and in patients with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (p = 0.033) or a higher CRP/albumin ratio. Migrants accounted for a substantial proportion of total TB cases and tended to be younger, with fewer comorbidities and lower rates of substance use. They showed a non-significant trend toward higher loss to follow-up and drug resistance. Overall, unfavourable outcomes were associated with elevated CRP levels and the CRP/albumin ratio. Full article

Immigration is being used as a policy lever to sustain the demography of Canadian Francophone minority communities (FMCs). As FMCs become increasingly diverse, concerns have been raised regarding their capacity to develop and sustain a sense of community cohesion. This study draws on the mobilities paradigm to examine how community members within three different FMCs engaged within and beyond formal and informal Francophone spaces within the cities of Metro Vancouver, Winnipeg and Moncton. Using an occupational mapping method to elicit spatial and dialogic data, we analyze the descriptions of maps from 62 French-speaking participants who were born in, or who immigrated to, Canada in order to obtain diverse perspectives on community cohesion. Our findings are presented according to three themes. The first addresses socio-geographically shaped mobilities within the three FMCs, the second examines participants’ engagement in a range of (in)formal Francophone spaces, and the third explores their convergent and divergent mobilities as shaped by local dynamics. We contribute insights into the relationship between forms of spatial and social mobility that shape experiences of community cohesion within FMCs. Full article

The study of the relationship between religion and newspapers embodies a well-established research field. However, relatively few studies focus on interfaith dialogue in the press. Against this backdrop, important questions about the manifestations and dynamics of interreligious dialogue in newspapers remain largely unexplored. Adopting a quali-quantitative approach and a topic-detection methodology, the research analyzes 1186 articles from four Italian newspapers (Corriere della Sera, Il Giornale, La Stampa, Il Mattino di Padova) mentioning interreligious dialogue between 2010 and 2023. The research seeks to answer the question: how do major Italian newspapers discursively construct and represent the topic of interreligious dialogue in their coverage? The results identify five representations of interreligious dialogue in the Italian press, each interconnected and/or partially overlapping. Specifically, the analysis of the newspapers’ articles reveals: (i) a broad but fragmented and episodic representation of interreligious dialogue, highlighting a lack of systematic or sustained discussion on the topic; (ii) a hegemonic presence of the Catholic Church in the various representations of interreligious dialogue, expressed through the Pope, Church organizations, and leaders; (iii) a widespread portrayal of Islam as a “challenging religion”, associated with the idea of a “clash of civilizations” and issues surrounding the integration of Muslim immigrants; (iv) a general focus on traditional Abrahamic religions in the representation of interreligious dialogue, which tends to exclude other religious minorities. Full article

Immigrants represent 20.8% of Norway’s population, with 22.2% aged 50+. This study aimed to assess oral health-related behaviors and perceived oral health in relation to sociodemographic factors among elderly immigrants aged 50+. Methods: 174 participants (94% response rate). Data on sociodemographic, oral hygiene, diet, snus use, xerostomia, and halitosis were collected using the self-reported questionnaire. p-value < 0.05 indicates statistical significance. Results: Participants’ mean age was 60.7, with 60% reporting poor self-perceived oral health, and over 64% had missing teeth. Participants reported poor oral hygiene habits (35.1%, n = 61), frequent sugar consumption (51.1%, n = 89), and smoking (16.1%, n = 28). Poor oral health was more common in those aged 60 and over (OR = 2.5, CI: 1.1–5.8) and with a narrow social network (OR = 3.8, CI: 1.7–8.5). Women had lower odds of sugar consumption (OR = 0.38, CI: 0.18–0.8) and smoking (OR = 0.27, CI: 0.09–0.7), but living in Norway for less than 3 years increased smoking odds (OR = 4.5, CI: 1.2–15.8). Moreover, being unmarried (OR = 5.5, p = 0.008), recent immigration (OR = 24.3, p < 001), and a narrow social network (OR = 4.7, p = 0.004) were associated with higher odds of missing teeth. Conclusions: Elderly immigrants in Norway reported poor oral health, tooth loss, and unhealthy dietary and hygiene habits, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. Full article

This study explores how ethnic identity, national identity, and cultural stress interact to impact mental health among Latino youth and their parents, using the Actor–Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM). By analyzing survey data from Latino parent–youth dyads, we assessed both individual (actor) and cross-dyadic (partner) effects of identity and cultural stress on mental health outcomes. The APIMeM framework allowed us to examine whether cultural stress mediates the relationship between identity factors and mental health. Results revealed significant actor effects, with higher levels of cultural stress associated with increased mental health distress in both parents (β = 0.65, p < 0.001) and youth (β = 0.32, p < 0.001). Ethnic identity did not demonstrate significant actor or partner effects on either cultural stress or mental health. In contrast, stronger national identity was inversely related to youth mental health distress (β = −0.11, p = 0.01) and had a significant protective partner effect on parental mental health (β = −0.16, p = 0.02). However, cultural stress did not mediate the relationship between ethnic identity and mental health. These findings underscore the importance of national identity and interdependent family dynamics in shaping mental health outcomes within Latino families experiencing cultural stress. Full article

This article examines how Afghan refugee resettlement in Muncie, Indiana challenges dominant narratives about both Midwestern homogeneity and refugee victimhood. Through research with Afghan refugees who arrived following the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, I analyze how everyday encounters between refugees and longtime residents reveal complex imperial connections. Drawing on Critical Refugee Studies, I argue that Afghan presence in the American Midwest is not incidental but directly produced by decades of U.S. military intervention. Cultural narratives that portray the Midwest as predominantly white are not only misleading but also fuel dangerous ideologies like nativism and white supremacy, which lead to anti-refugee and immigrant policies and practices that have dire consequences. By centering Afghan refugees within longer histories of imperialism, racialization, and migration, I demonstrate how face-to-face interactions produce unexpected alliances that question previously held ideologies and challenge U.S. empire. This work contributes to understanding how refugee integration collapses boundaries between foreign and domestic, revealing how empire fundamentally shapes citizenship, belonging, and regional identity in America’s heartland. Full article

The combination of discrimination and cultural-contextual stressors associated with acculturation demands and immigration processes cause stressful conditions for Latinos above and beyond daily, stressful life events experienced in families. This in turn, can have repercussions on parent–child relationships and family dynamics. We hypothesized that acculturative and general family stress would be associated with increased parental depression, which would negatively affect family cohesion and parents, and that these disruptions would predict children’s internalizing symptoms. Accordingly, mothers and fathers (N = 467) completed questionnaires to describe their experiences of acculturative stress, with mothers also reporting on general family stress. Parent and children’s reports of parenting and family cohesion were also assessed. Structural equation modeling analyses were employed to examine the relationship between parental stress (acculturative and general family stress) and depression at Wave 1, with spillover effects on family cohesion, parenting, and children’s internalizing symptoms at Wave 2. Familial acculturative stress was positively associated with increased parental depression, compromised family relationships and parenting, and in turn, was linked to increased anxiety and depression in their children. In addition, family cohesion served a mediating role in families, helping to explain the pathway though which acculturative stress affects family relationships and children’s internalizing symptoms. This study addresses a critical gap in immigrant family adaptation research, highlighting the need for a cohesive model that integrates multiple stressors to capture their unique, collective, and cumulative effects. Full article

Nature-based interventions are increasingly used to support human wellbeing, and more recently to integrate migrants into host countries. In this research, we focused on a nature-based vocational training programme led by a partnership of three Swedish public organisations. In the programme, long-term unemployed Swedes worked with migrants in various nature conservation and nature management tasks as part of an employment programme. We undertook interviews with nineteen participants and carried out observations ‘in situ’ to explore the impact of the programme on participants’ wellbeing. Using the ‘five ways to wellbeing’ as a conceptual framework, we found that the programme connected participants to nature, helped them take notice of the forests and nature they worked in, and connected participants across cultures. The participants learned new conservation skills and migrants had a chance to improve their Swedish language skills. The activities within the programme were physical and the majority found this was important for their overall wellbeing. Migrants were younger and keener to learn new employable skills than Swedes who were closer to pension age. The groups were more similar when it came to identifying the impact of the programme on their wellbeing. Nature-based vocational training programmes not only allow participants to gain skills for employment but can have a significant impact on wellbeing. Full article

This article examines the process of institutionalisation of Islam in Bosnia and Austria, with a particular focus on the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in the Republic of Austria (IZBA, Islamska zajednica Bošnjaka u Austriji) as an umbrella organisation for Bosnian Muslims in the country. The objective is to ascertain the extent to which this institution succeeded in establishing stable religious organisational structures and how immigration affects the religious–institutional landscape in Austrian society by establishing new networks. In addition, this article examines the challenges in establishing an integrated religious network and hierarchical structure faced by the IZBA, its position within the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGÖ, Islamische Glaubensgemeinschaft in Österreich), and its relations with the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ICBH). A key issue in this context is the appointment of imams, as they have a significant impact on the understanding of Islam among the believers. The activities of mosque congregations, as well as the challenges they face, are also brought into focus. The empirical basis of this article consists of five expert interviews with stakeholders involved in the work of the IZBA. Full article

Background/Objectives: Older adults (65+) are the fastest growing age group in Canada, comprising 18.8% of the country’s population. During the COVID-19 pandemic, use of virtual care, including telehealth and tele-medicine, increased dramatically among older adults in Canada who often face higher health risks, mobility limitations, and many barriers to accessing healthcare. Despite the rapid expansion in virtual care, no systematic review has focused specifically on virtual care among older adults in Canada. This review aims to explore the factors influencing virtual care adoption and the experiences of older Canadians during the pandemic through a systematic review. Methods: Conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, the review involved a comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, ESCBOHost, and Web of Science on 2 May 2025, yielding 281 unique citations. After screening and applying eligibility criteria, 15 studies employing quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods designs, with sample sizes ranging from 15 to 2,282,798, were included and appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Results: The review identified three domains of factors and the ways in which each factor shapes older adults’ virtual care experiences: (1) personal factors influencing virtual care use and demand (e.g., age, education, language, income, immigration status, community sizes), (2) resource factors impacting virtual care adoption (e.g., technology access, support), and (3) varying virtual care experiences among older adults (e.g., in assessment and communication efficacy, privacy, care quality, convenience, safety, and costs). Conclusions: This review highlights the complexities of virtual care engagement among older adults and underscores the need for inclusive, tailored strategies to improve the accessibility and effectiveness of virtual care delivery in both pandemic and post-pandemic contexts. Full article

The global Black Lives Matter movement and COVID-19 pandemic drew attention to the urgency of addressing entrenched structural dynamics such as racialization, gender, and colonization shaping health inequities for diverse racialized people. Canadian community-based research with racialized immigrant women recognized the need to enhance service provider capacity using a strengths-based activism approach to support client health and wellbeing. In this study, we aimed to understand the impacts of this mental health promotion practice on service providers and strategies to support them. Through purposeful convenience sampling, three focus groups were completed with 19 service providers working in settlement and mental health services in Toronto, Canada. Participants represented varied ethnicities and work experiences; most self-identified as female and racialized, with experiences living as immigrant women in Canada. Postcolonial feminist and critical mental health promotion analysis illuminated organizational and structural dynamics contributing to burnout and vicarious trauma that necessitate a focus on trauma- and violence-informed care. Transformative narratives reflected service provider resilience and activism, which aligned with and challenged mainstream biomedical approaches to mental health promotion. Implications include employing a postcolonial feminist lens to identify meaningful and comprehensive anti-oppression strategies that take colonialism, racialization, gender, and ableism and their intersections into account to decolonize nursing practices. Promoting health equity for diverse racialized women necessitates focused attention and multilevel anti-oppression strategies aligned with critical mental health promotion practices. Full article

As a cultural corridor connecting the Central Plains and Northeast China, the Liaoxi Corridor has a special position in the transmission of traditional Chinese culture. Traditional villages in the region have preserved rich intangible cultural heritage and traditional architectural features, which highlight the historical heritage of multicultural intermingling. This study fills the gap in the spatial distribution of traditional villages in the Liaoxi Corridor and reveals their spatial distribution pattern, which is of great theoretical significance. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis and quantitative geography, this study analyzes the spatial pattern of traditional villages and the influencing factors. The results show that traditional villages in the Liaoxi Corridor are clustered, forming high-density settlement areas in Chaoyang County and Beizhen City. Most villages are located in hilly and mountainous areas and river valleys and are affected by the natural geographic environment (topography and water sources) and historical and human factors (immigration and settlement, border defense, ethnic integration, etc.). In conclusion, this study provides a scientific basis and practical reference for rural revitalization, cultural heritage protection, and regional coordinated development, aiming at revealing the geographical and cultural mechanisms behind the spatial distribution of traditional villages. Full article