African American Ethnic and Class-Based Identities on the World Wide Web: Moderating the Effects of Self-Perceived Information Seeking/Finding and Web Self-Efficacy

The web is a potentially powerful tool for communicating information to diverse audiences. Unfortunately, all groups are not equally represented on the web, and this may have implications for online information seeking. This study investigated the role of class- and ethnic-based identity in self-perceived web-based information seeking/finding and self-efficacy. A questionnaire is administered, asking African Americans about their class and ethnic identities and web use to test a conceptual model predicting that these identities are positively related to web-based information seeking and web self-efficacy, which are then positively related to web-based information finding. Gender and previous web experience are expected to moderate the relationships. Structural equations modeling of these data support most of the predictions and indicate that these identities influence perceptions of online information seeking

The Effect of OPA1 on Mitochondrial Ca2+ Signaling

The dynamin-related GTPase protein OPA1, localized in the intermembrane space and tethered to the inner membrane of mitochondria, participates in the fusion of these organelles. Its mutation is the most prevalent cause of Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy. OPA1 controls the diameter of the junctions between the boundary part of the inner membrane and the membrane of cristae and reduces the diffusibility of cytochrome c through these junctions. We postulated that if significant Ca2+ uptake into the matrix occurs from the lumen of the cristae, reduced expression of OPA1 would increase the access of Ca2+ to the transporters in the crista membrane and thus would enhance Ca2+ uptake. In intact H295R adrenocortical and HeLa cells cytosolic Ca2+ signals evoked with K+ and histamine, respectively, were transferred into the mitochondria. The rate and amplitude of mitochondrial [Ca2+] rise (followed with confocal laser scanning microscopy and FRET measurements with fluorescent wide-field microscopy) were increased after knockdown of OPA1, as compared with cells transfected with control RNA or mitofusin1 siRNA. Ca2+ uptake was enhanced despite reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. In permeabilized cells the rate of Ca2+ uptake by depolarized mitochondria was also increased in OPA1-silenced cells. The participation of Na+/Ca2+ and Ca2+/H+ antiporters in this transport process is indicated by pharmacological data. Altogether, our observations reveal the significance of OPA1 in the control of mitochondrial Ca2+ metabolism

Identity Gap: Mediator Between Communication Input and Outcome Variables

After introducing the concept of identity gap, this study investigated the roles of 3 identity gaps (personal-enacted, personal-relational, and enacted-relational) in the relations between 2 communication input variables (assertiveness and communication apprehension) and a communication outcome variable (communication satisfaction). The results showed that the communication input variables did not have significant direct effects on the communication outcome variable. The effects of the communication input variables were transmitted to the communication outcome through the identity gaps. A personal-enacted identity gap directly mediated the effects of the communication inputs on the outcome. Personal-relational and enacted-relational identity gaps indirectly mediated the effects via a personal-enacted identity gap—that is, both communication inputs significantly predicted a personal-enacted identity gap, but neither a personal-relational nor an enacted-relational identity gap. However, a personal-enacted identity gap significantly predicted the other 2 identity gaps. Then, all 3 identity gaps significantly predicted communication satisfaction

Korean Americans\u27 Varying Levels of Depressive Symptoms in Relation to the Ethnicities of Their Major Interaction Partners: Comparisons and Explanations

After conducting a survey study with cross-sectional data involving 377 Korean Americans, this study finds that (1) Korean Americans mainly interacting with European Americans report a lower level of depressive symptoms than those in frequent contact with African Americans or Latino/as; (2) a model involving the relationships between Korean Americans’ perceived ethnic distance, personal-relational and personal-enacted identity gaps, and level of depressive symptoms is tenable; and (3) comparisons of the model applied to three groups of Korean Americans who interact with different ethnic groups reveal that relationships between the perceived ethnic distance and the identity gaps are accentuated for Korean Americans who predominantly interact with African Americans and attenuated with those in frequent contact with European Americans. Possible explanations for the different levels of depressive symptoms according to the ethnicities of the Korean Americans’ major interaction partners are discussed

Delineation of a Threefold Relationship Among Communication Input Variables, Identity Gaps, and Depressive Symptoms

In order to delineate a threefold relationship among communication variables, identity problems, and depressive symptoms, a structural equation model involving sequential relationships from communication competence, communication apprehension, and assertiveness to personal-relational, personal-enacted, and enacted-relational identity gaps to depressive symptoms was estimated with a sample of 475 participants. In the estimation, communication competence and communication apprehension significantly predicted all three identity gaps. However, assertiveness significantly predicted only an enacted-relational identity gap. Then, all three identity gaps had significant effects on depressive symptoms. In the analysis checking mediation effects of the identity gaps between the communication variables and depressive symptoms, the three identity gaps significantly mediated effects of the communication variables on depressive symptoms, suggesting that the identity gaps are a necessary linker conveying effects of communication problems to depressive symptoms

Identity Gaps and Level of Depression Among Korean Immigrants

Identity gaps are a new theoretical construct that provide a framework for integrating communication into the study of identity and understanding the relationship between identity and health outcomes, such as depression. Derived from the communication theory of identity, identity gaps emerge when elements of identity are inconsistent with each other. This article focuses on 2 types of identity gaps, personal-enacted and personal-relational, examining their relationships with situational variables and depression. A questionnaire was administered to a community sample of 377 Korean immigrants to test a hypothesized path model predicting that 3 situational variables (intercultural communication competence, middleperson status, and perception of racial hierarchy) would influence the identity gaps that, in turn, influence Korean immigrants\u27 levels of depression. Results showed that all 3 situational variables predicted Korean immigrants\u27 personal-relational identity gaps, whereas only intercultural communication competence predicted their personal-enacted identity gaps. Both types of identity gaps predicted the level of depression. The personal-relational identity gap significantly mediated the effects of all 3 situational variables on levels of depression. However, the personal-enacted identity gap mediated only the effects of intercultural communication competence on the levels of depression

Elaborating the Communication Theory of Identity: Identity Gaps and Communication Outcomes

The Communication Theory of Identity identifies four frames of identity and their interpenetration. This article articulates identity gaps as a way to study interpenetration and selected two of the gaps, between personal and relational frames and between personal and enacted identities, for the study. A survey was administered and, as hypothesized, significant negative correlations were observed between the identity gaps and three communication outcomes. Possible causal directions were suggested by post hoc analyses. The results support the theory and suggest the utility of identity gaps as a means for understanding the role of identity in social relationships

The Role of Identity In International Students\u27 Psychological Well-Being In the United States: A Model of Depression Level, Identity Gaps, Discrimination, and Acculturation

This study examines contributing factors to international students\u27 depression levels, focusing on the gaps between different aspects of identity. Two types of identity gaps, one between personal and enacted identities and the other between personal and relational identities, were selected for this study. The data were collected from 218 international students from various countries. A hypothesized path model was tested, which includes sequential relationships from acculturation level and perceived discrimination to the two types of identity gaps to depression level. The mediation effects of the two types of identity gaps between the two exogenous variables and depression level were tested. Also, the moderation effects of social support and social undermining were tested. Both acculturation level and perceived discrimination significantly predicted the two types of identity gaps. The personal-enacted identity gap significantly predicted depression level and mediated the effects of acculturation and perceived discrimination, but personal-relational identity gap exhibited neither effects. The only significant moderation effects were those of social undermining, which moderated the relationship between perceived discrimination and depression level. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved