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This study examines how students from rural areas in Bangladesh face particular challenges in adapting to university dormitories in urban areas. There has been an increase in the number of students migrating from rural areas of Bangladesh to the cities for pursuing higher studies. These students face numerous challenges to adapt themselves to a diverse and unfamiliar cultural setting of an urban university dormitory. Following Oberg's (1954, 1960) "culture shock" model, this study examines the adaptation challenges and coping strategies of rural students living at the urban university dormitories in Bangladesh. Mixed research methods, using paper-based questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, were used to collect data. Drawing upon a survey among 400 students and 10 in-depth interviews, this study identifies specific challenges that most students face in their adaptation process such as, substandard food quality, unhealthy accommodation, psychological trauma, depression and anxiety. The most effective coping mechanisms are fostering a positive attitude, joining social associations and talking to friends and families. It is expected that findings of this study would be useful for tertiary educational institutions to develop a support system that will help rural students better adapt to urban settings, which would positively contribute to their educational outcomes.

Language learning strategy research has focused on the actions of the individual language learner and investigated the links between successful learning and the strategies that such learners use. At the same time, researchers studying beginner bilingual pupils learning English and learning to read in English in UK schools have also been interested in the strategies that such pupils employ in order to be successful learners and readers in their new language. This article reports on some of the findings from a study of the experiences of a small group of bilingual Bangladeshi pupils that took as its initial focus the strategies that the pupils called on in order to engage with learning to read in English (their L2) in their classroom. What emerged during the course of the study was that the strategies the pupils were employing could not be considered separately from the contexts in which the children were learning, and that the strategies children used were not simply strategies for learning to read or to learn English but were bound up with issues of identity and assimilation. The data thus challenge research that focuses exclusively on the individual learner or that treats context as simply another variable. The paper argues for a sociocultural approach to research and pedagogy in relation to language learning and for the use of ethnographic methods. (Contains 9 notes.)

The Urdu-speaking Bihari people in Bangladesh, living in dilapidated camps with compromised rights and opportunities, constitute one of the most vulnerable diasporas in the South Asian region. These camps have existed for generations and consequently house many adolescents. Yet studies on the acculturation and identity distress of adolescent Biharis are nonexistent. This paper addresses this significant topic directly. Based on a survey using the Abbreviated Multidimensional Acculturation Scale (AMAS-ZABB) and the Identity Distress Survey (IDS) frameworks, this study found that Bihari adolescent youths preferred to associate themselves more with the host identity and culture than with their own. They showed high language competence in their host and origin languages, but only high cultural competence in their host culture. Their identity distress was found to be low across identity, social relationships, religion and group loyalties, but was moderate and evenly distributed around long-term goals and career plans. The recommendations of the study support the integration of the Bihari population into Bangladesh's population framework, since this diaspora appears to be qualified for this transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refugees and asylum seekers bring with them a plurality of cultures, traditions, and values that could prove crucial in influencing perceived health needs, requests for intervention, or willingness to undergo specific health treatments. Although studies have focused on the health consequences of forced migration, in recent years, there has been a lack of information on how refugees and asylum seekers represent their experiences of perceived health needs and elements that influence well-being, in a community context. This study aims to explore the experience of refugees and asylum seekers in an Italian multicultural community about perceived health needs. A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted with an interpretive approach. The data were collected using a semi-structured face-to-face interview. The interviews were transcribed, read thoroughly, and analyzed. Nineteen refugees and asylum seekers were interviewed. Three main themes were extracted: (1) the centrality of the family to feel healthy; (2) feeling part of a community; and (3) stability and security. The results confirm that health needs, experiences, and different cultural representations of health and illness should be read and addressed with a culturally competent vision. This study was not registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper reports the validation process for research questions that measure cultural identity in a survey of adolescents from a multi-ethnic urban area., Method: Four questions that tapped preferred cultural origins of friends and clothing were used to classify subjects into categories for cultural identity described by Berry (1980). We assessed face, content and construct validity of these questions by: i) investigating the meaning of cultural identity from an African-Caribbean, Bangladeshi, and White British perspective in three focus groups; ii) asking participants to comment on the questions and their suitability for studies of cultural identity; and iii) using data from the Research with East London Adolescents: Community Health Survey (RELACHS) study of adolescents to test hypotheses about associations of acculturation with health outcomes (physical and mental) in order to assess whether these trends are consistent with previous research, and are in accord with trends predicted by the Berry model., Results: Questions about the cultural origins of friends and clothing showed good face and content validity. However, only the questions on friendship choices showed some associations in the predicted directions, with some associations that were unexpected. The most significant findings were that, in comparison with marginalised pupils, for African-Caribbean pupils assimilation was associated with more tiredness (OR=40.7, 3.8-432.8,p<0.001) and traditionalism with less obesity (OR=0.1, 0.02-0.5, p<0.001). For Bangladeshi pupils integration was associated with a lower risk of depression (OR=0.4, 0.2-0.8, p<0.001)., Conclusion: Questions on friendship choices can be used to assess cultural identity, but associations with health and health risk behaviours are different for each ethnic group.

SummaryIntroduction1Definitions of ethnic groups and demographics of minority ethnic groups in the UK○ 1.1 Definitions of 'ethnic groups' and 'ethnicity'○ 1.2 Demographics and characteristics of minority ethnic groups in the UK– Countries of origin– Age/sex distribution and life expectancy– Geographical distribution and size of household– Religious beliefs– Education and employment patternsKey points2Overview of the health profile and dietary habits of minority ethnic groups in the UK○ 2.1 Available surveys○ 2.2 Overview of the health profiles among adults from minority ethnic groups– Overall health– Cardiovascular disease (CVD)– Coronary heart disease (CHD)– Stroke– Type 2 diabetes– Obesity○ 2.3 Possible causes of increased disease risk among minority ethnic groups○ 2.4 Smoking, drinking and physical activity habits○ 2.5 Dietary habits and nutritional status○ 2.6 Overview of the health profiles and dietary and health behaviour patterns of children from minority ethnic groups– Overall health– Diet and health behaviour patterns○ 2.7 Gaps in data availabilityKey points3Factors affecting food choice– Income and socio‐economic status– Food availability and access– Awareness of healthy eating– Religious beliefs– Food beliefs– Time and cooking skills– Generation and genderKey points4Traditional diets of minority ethnic groups○ 4.1 Overview of traditional diets of minority ethic groups– South Asians– African‐Caribbeans– Chinese○ 4.2 Dietary acculturation○ 4.3 Nutritional composition of ethnic‐style cuisineKey points5Nutritional interventions and health promotion among minority ethnic groups○ 5.1 Effective nutritional interventions○ 5.2 Health promotion interventions to prevent problems associated with fasting○ 5.3 Priorities for nutritional interventions and health promotion○ 5.4 Using behaviour change models○ 5.5 Current community initiatives○ 5.6 Catering for institutionalised individuals○ 5.7 Recommendations for future research, policy and practiceKey points6Conclusion• Acknowledgements• References Summary: According to the latest census, non‐white minority ethnic groups made up 7.9% of the UK's population in 2001. The largest of these groups were South Asians, Black African‐Caribbeans and Chinese. Studies have shown that some minority ethnic groups are more likely to experience poorer health outcomes compared with the mainstream population. These include higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes and obesity. The differences in health outcomes may reflect interactions between diet and other health behaviours, genetic predisposition and developmental programming, all of which vary across different groups. As is the case for the rest of the population, the dietary habits of minority ethnic groups are affected by a wide variety of factors, but acquiring a better understanding of these can help health professionals and educationalists to recognise the needs of these groups and help them to make healthier food choices. Unfortunately, to date, there have been few tailored, well‐designed and evaluated nutritional interventions in the UK targeting minority ethnic population groups. Further needs assessment and better evaluation of nutritional interventions have been recommended to enhance the understanding of the effectiveness of different approaches amongst minority ethnic groups. This briefing paper will provide an overview of the health profile, dietary habits and other health behaviours of the three largest non‐white minority ethnic groups in the UK, explore the factors affecting their food choices, provide a summary of their traditional diets and review the evidence base to identify the factors that support successful nutrition interventions in these groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a study of unemployment among British Asians living in the north of England. The sample comprises 139 employed and unemployed men. Using standardized psychological questionnaires with a semi-structured interview schedule, the psychological consequences of unemployment are examined in relation to other psychosocial variables. The results showed that the unemployed group had lower levels of psychological well-being, self-esteem, and employment commitment with high external beliefs, than the employed group. Length of unemployment was a significant determinant of psychological well-being and respondents with a longer period of unemployment had a lower level of psychological well-being than those who had been unemployed for a shorter period. The findings are examined in the context of existing empirical evidence, and the need to examine the psychological impact of unemployment among other British Asian groups is emphasized.

This article assesses the 'relations to place' of the communities neighboring the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh. In doing so, two qualitative data collection methods (FGD and in-depth interview) were applied in the neighboring communities that focused on their place relations (i.e., sense of place, place utility, place attachment, place dependence, place identity, and place obduracy). The results show how the unprecedented influx of Rohingyas negatively influences their relations with the places. Therefore, this paper proposes further studying the complexity of place relations in the host communities, which may contribute to future policy planning concerning Rohingyas in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Self‐management strategies improve asthma outcomes, although interventions for South Asian populations have been less effective than in White populations. Both self‐management and culture are dynamic, and factors such as acculturation and generation have not always been adequately reflected in existing cultural interventions. We aimed to explore the perspectives of Bangladeshi and Pakistani people in the United Kingdom, across multiple generations (first, second and third/fourth), on how they self‐manage their asthma, with a view to suggesting recommendations for cultural interventions. Methods: We purposively recruited Bangladeshi and Pakistani participants, with an active diagnosis of asthma from healthcare settings. Semi‐structured interviews in the participants' choice of language (English, Sylheti, Standard Bengali or Urdu) were conducted, and data were analysed thematically. Results: Twenty‐seven participants (13 Bangladeshi and 14 Pakistani) were interviewed. There were generational differences in self‐management, influenced by complex cultural processes experienced by South Asians as part of being an ethnic minority group. Individuals from the first generation used self‐management strategies congruent to traditional beliefs such as 'sweating' and often chose to travel to South Asian countries. Generations born and raised in the United Kingdom learnt and experimented with self‐management based on their fused identities and modified their approach depending on whether they were in familial or peer settings. Acculturative stress, which was typically higher in first generations who had migration‐related stressors, influenced the priority given to asthma self‐management throughout generations. The amount and type of available asthma information as well as social discussions within the community and with healthcare professionals also shaped asthma self‐management. Conclusions: Recognizing cultural diversity and its influence of asthma self‐management can help develop effective interventions tailored to the lives of South Asian people. Patient or Public Contribution: Patient and Public Involvement colleagues were consulted throughout to ensure that the study and its materials were fit for purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper reports results from one of the first large, nationally representative surveys of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in a developing country. The NGO sector in Bangladesh is highly organized and relatively homogeneous. Most NGOs utilize a branch and headquarters structure in which branches have limited autonomy from headquarters. At the branch level, most NGOs in the country, whether big or small, focus on credit services, derive more of their income from fees for services than from grants, rely on salaried rather than voluntary staff, keep detailed financial accounts that are externally audited, and hire middle-class college educated men as managers. The convergence to a modal institutional form probably is the result of the persuasive power of ideas, sociological pressures toward acculturation and conformity, as well as material incentives. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper deals with the folk culture of the Paharia, a small ethnic community in Bangladesh. From the prehistoric and protohistoric periods, they lived in the Santal Parganas and Rajmahal hills of the eastern region of India. In the early nineteenth century, a significant number of the Paharia migrated to the northern part of Bangladesh. A proud community that dominated their neighbors, their subsistence strategies were principally associated with plundering and their behavior continually threatened other groups. Later, a number of them migrated to the city of Rajshahi due to increasing unemployment in rural areas and diversified employment opportunities in the city. The present study explores the folk rituals and ceremonies, cultural adaptation, folk worldview, and pattern of acculturation in their new urban setting, as well as strategies they adopted for coping with city life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background South Asians in the UK experience high rates of coronary heart disease compared with other ethnic groups. Behavioural risk factors such as physical inactivity have been explored as possible explanations for this trend. However, there have been few comprehensive accounts describing physical activity levels of this ethnic group. Methods Data from the Health Survey for England (1999-2004) on 5421 South Asians and 8974 white participants aged 18-55 years were used to compare physical activity levels. Analyses of covariance tested the association between ethnicity and self-reported total physical activity metabolic equivalents of task (MET) scores, adjusting for age, sex, self-reported health, adiposity and socioeconomic status. Results Total MET-min/week were consistently lower in UK South Asians than in white participants (973 vs 1465 MET-min, p<0.001). This ethnic group difference was consistent across sexes, age groups and subgroups and was independent of covariates. South Asians born in the UK reported higher levels of physical activity than those born elsewhere (p<0.001). Variables such as urbanisation and psychological distress were associated with physical activity; however, despite their inclusion in the models, ethnic group differences remained, indicating that physical inactivity in South Asians was not attributable to area or individual sociodemographic factors. Conclusions Physical activity levels are very low in UK South Asians; this is consistent across all examined population subsets. Physical inactivity is likely to contribute to their high risk of coronary heart disease. Increasing physical activity in all UK South Asians should be a public health priority for health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]