471 Rethinking ethnic categories in research

Abstract OP 23: Mental Health 3, B304 (FCSH), September 4, 2025, 14:45 - 15:45 Introduction and aim Traditional ethnic categories currently used in mental health research often fail to capture the complexities of identity, especially in migrant and ethnic minority communities. Cypriots have been migrating to the UK since the early 1900s and are an important minority group in the UK. Because of the lack of specificity in the census data categories, it is hard to estimate the actual number of Cypriots in the UK, making it difficult to conduct research involving them. This study aims to assess the limitations of traditional ethnic categories used in mental health research of Cypriots in the UK. Methods We reviewed the existing evidence on the recruitment and classification of Cypriots in mental health research conducted in the UK. We conducted our search through three main terms: ‘mental health’, ‘Cypriots’, and the ‘UK’. We searched the electronic databases EBSCO (MEDLINE, APA PsycArticles, APA PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Plus), PubMed, and Web of Science for articles published up to January 2024. Results Our review includes ten studies from 1987- 2012, eight quantitative, one qualitative, and one secondary data analysis study. Included studies have used different participant recruitment methods such as identifying Greek-sounding names on the electoral roll, attendees of a Greek Cypriot and a native English general practitioner, snowball sampling, etc. There are inconsistencies in how ethnic groups are classified, with multiple ethnic category terms used interchangeably within studies. Some studies also equated ethnicity with country of origin, impacting data accuracy. Conclusion Limitations in ethnic categories have resulted in a lack of a clear sampling frame. This has led to different participant recruitment strategies and inconsistent classifications of participants across studies. Addressing these challenges requires moving beyond traditional ethnic categories and adopting practical and nuanced approaches. This will improve mental health research involving Cypriots and other minority communities.