Racial identity and its assessment in a sample of African-American men in treatment for cocaine dependence

Reliability and Structural Validity of Cross Racial Identity Scale Scores in a Sample of African American Adults

In this article, the authors examine the internal consistency and structural validity of scores on the Cross Racial Identity Scale (CRIS; Vandiver et al., 2000; Worrell, Vandiver, & Cross, 2000) in a sample of 105 adults. Exploratory factor analyses provided support for the six-factor structure of the CRIS. Reliability estimates for the scores were in the high to moderate range, and subscale inter-correlations were low. The authors conclude that the evidence supporting the CRIS is strong and recommend that the examination of CRIS scores be extended into other areas of construct validity.

Generalizing Nigrescence Profiles

The two studies in this article examine the interpretability and generalizability of nigrescence profiles based on Cross Racial Identity Scale scores across different educational contexts. Study 1 participants ( N = 333) came from a predominantly White institution (PWI) and were grouped into six clusters labeled Afrocentric, multiculturalist, assimilated, immersion, low race salience, and miseducated variant. The two samples in Study 2 consisted of students from PWIs ( N = 314) and from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs; N = 306), respectively. Both PWI and HBCU participants were grouped into five clusters. Four of the six original clusters (assimilated, immersion, low race salience, and miseducated variant) replicated in both samples, and one (multiculturalists) replicated only in the PWI sample. The results indicate that there are generalizable racial identity profiles in the Black population. The authors discuss the implications of the findings.

Program completion in specialized batterer counseling for African-American men

Despite the many recommendations for specialized counseling for African-American men arrested for domestic violence, research has yet to document its effectiveness in improving program completion. This experimental clinical trial compared the program completion rates of culturally-focused counseling in all-African-American groups, conventional counseling in all-African-American groups, and conventional counseling in racially-mixed groups. The completion rate for the 16-week program was approximately 55% across the three counseling options. Completion rates were slightly lower in the specialized counseling groups following stricter enforcement of dismissal policies. For men with high racial identification, the completion rate rose to between 63% and 65% in the culturally-focused and conventional all-African-American groups versus only 40% in the racially-mixed groups. Programs might offer the option of culturally-focused counseling to African-American men to efficiently improve program completion. The influence of the program's strong link to the criminal justice system and weaker link to the community warrants further consideration.

Concordance among biological, interview, and self-report measures of drug use among African American and Hispanic adolescents referred for drug abuse treatment

This study examined the concordance among urine assays, interview measures, and self-report measures of marijuana and cocaine use among 190 drug-abusing/dependent African American and Hispanic adolescents and their families at 3 assessment points of an 18-month randomized clinical trial study. Results demonstrated concordance among urine assays, a calendar method self-report measure (Timeline Follow Back [TLFB]), and a noncalendar method self-report measure (Adolescent Drug Abuse Diagnosis Scale). Diagnostic criteria of marijuana and cocaine abuse/dependence from a clinical structured interview (Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children [DISC]) also converged, albeit weakly, with self-report measures. Adolescent and parent reports on DISC marijuana abuse/dependence diagnostic criteria were related; however, collateral findings for DISC cocaine abuse/dependence diagnostic criteria were equivocal. Differences in concordance among biological and self-report cocaine use measures were found for baseline TLFB assessments among African American participants. Implications for future use and refinement of adolescent drug use assessments are discussed.

Reducing disparities in asthma care: priorities for research--National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute workshop report

Minority groups with diverse racial and ethnic heritages and persons living in poverty are much more likely to die of asthma and to require emergency care for exacerbations of asthma than white persons not living in poverty. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute convened a multidisciplinary group of expert scientists and clinicians to review current research aimed at understanding risk factors for these disparities in asthma health outcomes, to describe key barriers to improving asthma outcomes, and to establish priorities for future research. Education programs for asthma and other chronic diseases were reviewed. Successful elements of clinic and community-based programs were identified. Factors potentially involved in producing disparities include gene-environment interaction, psychologic and social factors, and socioeconomic status. Stress potentially contributes to asthma morbidity at both the individual and community level. Recommendations are made to stimulate research to understand risk factors for disparities and their mechanisms (e.g., gene-by-environment interactions and the role of stress), to define appropriate research designs and methods for evaluating behavioral and community interventions, and to examine how differential access to care contributes to morbidity. Research is encouraged to identify strategies that improve cultural adaptation and adoption of proven programs in a variety of populations.