Shirley Chau

Negotiating Ethnic Identity in Canada: The Case of the "Satellite Children.".

Satellite children are children of ethnically Chinese immigrants to North America who have returned to their country of origin after immigration. Based on interview transcripts of 68 adolescent satellite children, an analysis on the negotiation of ethnic identity was performed using the NUD*IST software. The analysis showed multiple ways of ethnic identity negotiation, ranging from an essentialist approach to differentiation and to confusion. Existing approaches to theoretical conceptualization are critically examined, drawing implications for practice.

Inquiries into Deaths of Children in Care: The Impact on Child Welfare Workers and their Organization

In recent years public inquiries into the murders of children have served to dramatically shift child welfare services throughout North America and Great Britain. The present study is a qualitative analysis of the impact of these death reviews and the subsequent changes to child welfare services on child welfare workers. The themes that emerged occurred at three primary levels, distress experienced by individual workers, radiated distress throughout the agency and weakened public and community support. Factors contributing to distress by individual workers included re-exposure to traumatic material, the allconsuming nature of inquiries and the critical nature of inquiries. Radiated distress occurred as a result of empathy for colleagues undergoing an inquiry and changes emanating from the inquiry which constricted practice and increased the policing function of child welfare. Finally negative media and public attention contributed to concerns that all members of child welfare organizations were under scrutiny and had become tainted. While accountability and continuous improvement of services are worthy goals, we must continue to search for accountability processes that do not have such a devastating impact on child welfare workers and their organizations.

Relationships between Culture and Health Status: A Multi-Site Study of the Older Chinese in Canada

La présente étude examine les relations entre la culture et l’état de santé des aînés chinois au Canada. Les données ont été recueillies lors d’entretiens face à face avec un échantillon transversal de 2 272 aînés chinois de 55 à 101 ans sélectionnés au hasard dans sept villes canadiennes. Leur état de santé aété évalué en fonction du nombre de maladies chroniques, des limites de l’AVQ et de l’AIVQ, et de la Medical Outcome Study Short Form SF-36. Bien que les variables culturelles n’expliquent qu’une petite partie de la variance dans l’état de santé, être davantage au courant des modèles traditionnels de croyance à la santé des Chinois est important si l’on veut prévoir la santé physique, le nombre de maladies, et les limites associées aux activités instrumentales de la vie quotidienne. D’autres variables culturelles, notamment la religion, le pays d’origine, et la période de résidence au Canada étaient aussi importantes afin de prévoir certaines variables associées à la santé. Les interventions visant à améliorer la santé devraient porter sur des stratégies permettant d’améliorer la compatibilité culturelle entre les utilisateurs et le système de distribution des soins. This study examined the relationships between culture and the health status of older Chinese in Canada. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with a cross-sectional, randomly selected sample of 2,272 older Chinese between 55 and 101 years of age in seven Canadian cities. Health status was assessed by the number of chronic illnesses, by limitations in ADL and IADL, and by information on the Medical Outcome Study Short Form SF-36. Although cultural variables explained only a small proportion of variance in health status, having a stronger level of identification with traditional Chinese health beliefs was significant in predicting physical health, number of illnesses, and limitations on IADL. Other cultural variables, including religion, country of origin, and length of residence in Canada, were also significant in predicting some health variables. Interventions to improve health should focus on strategies to enhance cultural compatibility between users and the health delivery system.

The Size of an Ethno-Cultural Community as a Social Determinant of Health for Chinese Seniors

The present study investigated the link between the sizes of the Chinese community to the health of Chinese seniors in Canada. A secondary data analysis of survey data from a representative sample of 2,272 Chinese older adults aged 55 and over was conducted. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed to assess the effects of the size of Chinese communities in Chinese seniors’ health. Chinese seniors residing in the community with a small Chinese population reported better physical and mental health than the Chinese seniors residing in communities with a larger Chinese population. The findings were contrary to expectations that health of Chinese seniors should be higher in cities with large Chinese communities. These findings raise new questions for future investigations into the dynamics and impact of ethnic community size, and the importance of studying intragroup differences within ethno-cultural groups to better understand health disparities in ethnic groups.

Mothers’ Narratives of Their Involvement With Child Welfare Services

Centering on practice within child welfare systems, this article focuses on four representative narratives derived from 32 in-depth qualitative interviews with women who experienced intimate partner violence and involvement with the child welfare system in Manitoba and British Columbia, Canada. Narrative analysis was used to explore the content of mothers’ stories to understand how they position themselves against their child welfare workers’ understanding of them as “failed” mothers. This article concludes with recommendations to enhance practice with mothers who are involved with child welfare systems

Gender-Associated Perceptions of Barriers and Motivators to Physical Activity Participation in South Asian Punjabis Living in Western Canada.

BACKGROUND Gender is a sociocultural factor known to impact the physical activity (PA) behaviors of South Asians. The purpose of this research was to examine gender-associated perceptions of barriers and motivators for PA in a South Asian population living Canada. METHODS A random sample (N = 204) of South Asian Punjabi adults (18yrs+) completed a computer assisted telephone interview concerning their perceptions to PA participation. Content analysis was used to identify relevant main themes and chi-square analysis was used to calculate gender differences. RESULTS Results indicated that women more often reported a lack of time due to work and family (χ2 = 7.284, df = 1, P = .007) and a lack of motivation (χ2 = 4.982, df = 1, P = .026), yet men more often reported climate (χ2 = 7.045, df = 1, P = .008) as a barrier. Regarding motivators, men more often reported prevention and reduction of disease (χ2 = 4.451, df = 1, P = .034) and watching others perform (χ2 = 10.827, df = 1, P = .001); however, reducing weight gain (χ2 = 4.806, df = 1, P = .028) and looking like others (χ2 = 4.730, df = 1, P = .029) were reported more often by women. CONCLUSIONS Gender-associated differences concerning PA are present in this population and must be considered in the design and implementation of effective interventions.

Examining the role of acculturation in the leisure-time physical activity of South Asians living in Canada

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to examine the leisure-time physical activity of South Asians living in Canada using a four-mode, bidimensional acculturation framework. DESIGN Cross-sectional, descriptive study. METHODS A random sample (N=204) of South Asian adults living in Calgary, Canada completed a telephone interview that assessed their leisure-time physical activity and acculturation. Interviews were conducted in either English or Punjabi, depending on participant preference. RESULTS Cluster analysis identified four acculturation clusters: Low-Separated and High-Separated (with separation signifying different preference levels for maintaining ones heritage culture while distancing oneself from the mainstream culture); and Integrated-Heritage and Integrated-Mainstream (with integration indicating a preference for maintaining ones heritage culture and being involved in the mainstream culture-albeit with the former cluster emphasizing heritage more whereas the latter cluster emphasized the mainstream more). A MANOVA performed on light, moderate, and vigorous leisure-time physical activity using the four clusters was significant (p<.05). Moderate leisure-time physical activity was greater for the two separated clusters than the two integrated clusters (p<.05), with the Separated-Low cluster being greater than both the Integrated-Mainstream (p<.05) and the Integrated-Heritage (p<.01) clusters. Vigorous leisure-time physical activity was greater for the two integrated clusters than the two separated clusters (p<.01), with the Integrated-Mainstream cluster being greater than both the Separated-Low (p<.05) and Separated-High (p<.01) clusters. CONCLUSIONS An integrative, four-mode bidimensional approach should be employed when developing messages and designing programs to promote and encourage leisure-time physical activity in South Asian communities.

Children’s best interests and intimate partner violence in the Canadian family law and child protection systems:

This article summarizes the findings of a project investigating women’s experiences with the Canadian child protection (CPS) and family law (FLS) systems. We examine both service systems together here because although both privilege children’s best interests as their primary consideration and define the concept similarly, the two systems diverge in their expectations of women relative to child custody. While FLS requires women to accept custody arrangements that provide close and continued contact between themselves and their former abusive partners, CPS expects women to leave these same abusive partners or risk removal of their children. The results of thirty-five qualitative interviews with women demonstrate their struggles, firstly, in having their experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) recognized by professionals in the FLS, and, secondly, in becoming caught between the opposing expectations of CPS and FLS while not receiving help from either. Recommendations for change to improve these services are included in this article.

Urban-Rural Migration and Health and Quality of Life in Homeless People

Abstract Homelessness can impact ones use of health and social services. Our paper provides a descriptive analysis of the nature, prevalence and impacts of migration amongst homeless people in two cities. We examine experiences of 120 homeless men in Vancouver and Kelowna in relation to their mobility and its impact(s) on housing stability, health status and behaviours, health and social services. Data were collected for a three year period in which homeless participants traveled from one location (either Kelowna or Vancouver) to live in other cities or towns. Mens reasons for moving, types of services/benefits received in each place, reasons for leaving, and what impact(s) (positive or negative) moving had on their ability to receive services and the effects on their health and quality of life are presented. Our work suggests that differences may exist in reasons for moving to, or leaving a city, and these factors may influence housing, health and behaviours.

An Exploratory Study of How Multiculturalism Policies are Implemented at the Grassroots Level

The concept of multiculturalism has become a fixture in Canadian society as part of a nation-building mechanism. In many ways, this suggests a perception that public policies promoting multiculturalism are working. However, this perception is based on assumptions that there is a coherent and shared definition and understanding of the implementation of multiculturalism policies. This paper reports the findings of an exploratory study that examined how multiculturalism policies are actualized at the grassroots level through community organizations. This study involved key informant interviews and focus groups of government staff responsible for the delivery of multiculturalism at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels, as well as discussions with service users and service providers of multiculturalism. Findings of this study show that, first, there is a difference in the understanding of the meaning of the policies among these research participants. Second, there has been a subtle shift of governmental interpretation of multiculturalism policies to an antiracist perspective. Third, although both federal and provincial governments have positioned community organizations as key partners in actualizing multiculturalism policies at the grassroots level, their relationship has been strained, i.e., in order to attain their goals for multiculturalism, community organizations have had to adapt to changing rules and to learn how to maneuver through the funding process. Some policy implications are suggested at the end of the paper. Le concept du multiculturalisme fait partie intégrante du mécanisme de la reconstruction d’une nation au sein de la société canadienne. De plusieurs façons, cela suggère qu’une perception existe selon laquelle les politiques des gouvernements ayant pour but de promouvoir le multiculturalisme fonctionnent bien. Toutefois, cette perception se base sur la prémisse qu’il existe une définition et une compréhension cohérentes et partagées de la mise en œuvre de politiques qui gouvernent le multiculturalisme. Cet article présente le compte rendu des données recueillies lors d’une étude exploratoire de la manière dont les politiques gouvernant le multiculturalisme sont actualisées au niveau fondamental par l’intérmédiaire d’organismes communautaires. Cette étude présente aussi des entretiens tenus avec certaines personnes-ressources clés ainsi qu’avec un groupe de discussion formé de membres du personnel de la fonction publique chargés de la mise en œuvre du multiculturalisme aux niveaux fédéral, provincial et municipal, aussi bien qu’avec les utilisateurs et fournisseurs de services reliés au multiculturalisme. Les données recueillies dans cette étude démontrent que, premièrement, il existe différents niveaux de compréhension de la signification des politiques parmi les participants de ces recherches. Deuxièmement, il existe dans l’interprétation faite par les gouvernements des politiques du multiculturalisme, un transfert subtil vers une perspective antiraciste. Troisièmement, bien que les gouvernements aient visé certains organismes communautaires comme partenaires-clé dans l’actualisation des politiques au niveau fondamental, la relation entre les gouvernements et ces organismes demeure un peu étrange. De plus, à la fin de cet article, nous suggérons certaines implications des politiques gouvernant le multiculturalisme.