Demographic, economic, and genetic factors related to national differences in ethnocentric attitudes

From a learning opportunity to a conscious multidimensional change: a metasynthesis of transcultural learning experiences among nursing students

BACKGROUND

Several educational activities in nursing schools worldwide have been implemented to promote transcultural nursing and cultural competence. Despite the diversity of their experiences and outcomes, the available evidence has not been systematically reviewed and reinterpreted. This study aimed to review and reinterpret all rigorous qualitative evidence available, providing an opportunity to understand how students learn transcultural nursing and assisting faculties, researchers, managers, and practitioners in designing new interventions to improve transcultural training.

METHODS

A meta-synthesis was conducted to review and integrate qualitative studies of these phenomena. English, Spanish and Portuguese articles were searched in Pubmed and Scopus databases. Only peer-reviewed journals in which qualitative approaches were used were included. Quality was assessed using the CASP qualitative version checklist. The metasynthesis technique proposed by Noblit and Hare was used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine studies were included in the analysis. Most studies used phenomenological approaches that were conducted in Australia and the United States of America, with international internships being the most popular learning method. The data revealed one central theme, "From learning opportunity to conscious multidimensional change," and six subthemes. The transcultural nursing learning experience is not a simple or linear process. Instead, it appears to be a complex process formed by the interaction between a) self-awareness, b) reflective thinking, c) Cultural Encounters, d) cultural skills, e) Cultural Desire, and f) Cultural Knowledge.

CONCLUSIONS

Transcultural nursing learning is a multifaceted process that arises from specific learning opportunities. This process is still to evolving. Therefore, specific educational strategies should be implemented to encourage attitudinal change and promote reflective thinking.

The effect of ethnocentrism and moral sensitivity on intercultural sensitivity in nursing students, descriptive cross-sectional research study

BACKGROUND

Factors affecting intercultural sensitivity and care are becoming an increasingly important issue due to ethnic diversity. Nurses play a crucial role in care and therefore should keep up with this trend and improve their intercultural sensitivity.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

This descriptive cross-sectional study investigated the effects of ethnocentrism and moral sensitivity on intercultural sensitivity in nursing students.

METHODS AND PARTICIPANTS

Data were collected using a demographic characteristics questionnaire and the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale, Generalized Ethnocentrism Scale, and Moral Sensitivity Scale. The sample consisted of 1343 nursing students. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine correlations between scale scores. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the effects of ethnocentrism, moral sensitivity, and demographic characteristics on intercultural sensitivity.

RESULTS

Intercultural sensitivity was found to be negatively correlated with ethnocentrism and positively correlated with moral sensitivity. Ethnocentrism predicted intercultural sensitivity more than moral sensitivity. Ethnocentrism and moral sensitivity explained 16.8% of the total variance of intercultural sensitivity. However, ethnocentrism affected intercultural sensitivity more than moral sensitivity did (beta = -0.406).

CONCLUSION

Nursing education should adopt strategies to reduce ethnocentrism by helping students develop cultural competence and intercultural sensitivity. Such education can equip nurses to provide higher quality care to patients of different cultural backgrounds.

Attitudes Towards Cousin Marriages: Findings Among Young People from Mexico

The present research examined how life history and resistance against interethnic mating were related to positive and negative attitudes towards cousin marriages among young people aged between 15 and 25 from a rural area in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. The sample included three ethnic groups: Mestizos (people of mixed Spanish and indigenous descent, n = 84), indigenous Mixtecs (n = 83), and Afro-Mexicans (n = 33). In general, respondents reported more negative than positive attitudes towards cousin marriage. Among the Mestizos, but not in the other ethnic groups, women reported more negative attitudes than men did. The main objections against marrying a cousin were that it might lead to family conflict and might result in genetic defects of one’s offspring. The main positive aspect of cousin marriage that participants mentioned was that one would marry someone with the same values. The ethnic groups did not differ in their attitudes towards cousin marriages. A slower life history was related to a more negative (but not a less positive) attitude towards cousin marriages, whereas resistance against out-group mating was related to a more positive (but not a less negative) attitude towards cousin marriages. The implications of the results are discussed in the context of life history theory, the benefits of in-group marriage, and the potential positive and negative effects of cousin marriages.