Ethnicity and Causal Mechanisms

Research clearly indicates that ethnic groups differ significantly on levels of mental and physical health, antisocial behavior, and educational attainment. This book explains these variations among ethnic groups with respect to their psychological and social functioning and tests competing hypotheses about the mechanisms that might cause the functioning to be better, worse, or different in pattern from other groups. Attention is paid to educational attainments, antisocial behavior, schizophrenia and suicide, and to the complex and changing patterns of ethnic identity. The book also focuses on evidence on risk and protective factors that is used systematically to ask whether such factors might account for the differences in both migration histories and ethnic mixture. It concludes with a discussion of the multiple meanings of ethnicity, the major variations among ethnic groups, and the policy implications of the findings discussed in the book.

'This fascinating book is concerned with the ways in which ethnicity may have a causal role in young people's adjustment … multidisciplinary perspectives in the book are reflected in the editors' expertise … interesting contributions from UK experts … anybody who is curious about human adjustment will find this a very illuminating and interesting book. It deserves to be widely read. The book sets the standard for future studies related to ethnicity, as well as giving ideas for what might be investigated in further work.' Primary Care & Community Psychiatry

Michael Rutter is Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London. His research has included the genetics of autism, the effect of early severe deprivation on Romanian orphans adopted into Britain, and the study of both school and environmental influences on children's behavior. He has published nearly 40 books. Marta Tienda is Maurice P. During 22 Professor in Demographic Studies and Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton University. She has written and edited numerous papers and several books, including The Hispanic Population of the United States, Divided Opportunities, Hispanics and the U.S. Economy, and The Color of Opportunity.