A Structural Model of Racial Discrimination, Acculturative Stress, and Cultural Resources Among Arab American Adolescents

Abstract

Despite evidence towards the risk for discrimination and acculturative stress that Arab American adolescents may face, the link between socio-cultural adversities and psychological well-being in this population has not been established. This study examined the role of socio-cultural adversities (discrimination and acculturative stress) and cultural resources (ethnic identity, religious support and religious coping) in terms of their direct impact on psychological distress. Using structural equation modeling, the proposed model was tested with 240 Arab American adolescents. The results indicated a strong positive relationship between socio-cultural adversities and psychological distress. Furthermore, this study supported a promotive model of cultural resources, where a negative association between cultural resources and psychological distress was found. Understanding the manner in which socio-cultural adversities and resources are linked to psychological distress can inform the development of culturally appropriate interventions that can effectively mitigate mental health concerns for understudied and vulnerable populations.

Acculturation, Acculturative Stress, Religiosity and Psychological Adjustment among Muslim Arab American Adolescents

“…First, the results of the study found that acculturation and acculturative stress significantly predicted psychological problems. These results align with the previous research showing an association between acculturation, acculturative stress, and psychological problems across a variety of ethnic minority and/or immigrant groups (Lopez, Ehly, & Garcia-Vazquez, 2002) as well as with Arab American adolescents (Ahmed et al, 2011). Immigrant or ethnic minority groups who maintain their cultural traditions and values may experience fewer psychological problems because they are able to identify with, and feel a part of, their ethnic community (Greene, Way, & Pahl, 2006).…”

“…Being a member of a religious community, perceiving support from God, and practicing their religion may be protective factors from the stress of acculturation for these adolescents. Previous research with Arab American adolescents suggested that religious coping and support play an important role in the process of acculturation (Ahmed et al, 2011).…”

“…Other studies, however, have also shown that religiosity is related to acculturation among Arab American adolescents. Adolescents who reported using religious coping, who had higher ethnic identity, and who reported having religious support also reported fewer internalizing and externalizing psychological symptoms (Ahmed et al, 2011). Religiosity, therefore, may also play an important role in psychological adjustment among Muslim Arab American adolescents.…”

“…Previous studies have suggested that Canadian Arab youth who endorsed Arab cultural orientation, but not a European Canadian cultural orientation, reported great life satisfaction (Paterson & Hakim-Larson, 2012). Furthermore, a strong association has been shown between socio-cultural adversities (e.g., religious coping and support), discrimination, acculturative stress, and psychological distress among Arab American (Ahmed, Kia-Keating, & Tsai, 2011). Understanding their acculturative experiences and the relationship of these experiences to their psychological adjustment would help in the provision of culturally responsive assessment, intervention, and consultative services.…”

Stress, Religious Coping and Wellbeing in Acculturating Muslims

“…These include difficulties in obtaining employment, social exclusion, harassment and suspicion. Several studies have pointed towards the role of religion in coping with these acculturative challenges Ahmed, Kia-Keating, & Tsai, 2011;Aydin et al, 2010;Gardner et al, 2014). Aydin et al 's (2010) study of Turkish-German Christians and Muslims facing racial discrimination and segregation found religious coping to significantly buffer the effects of acculturative stress on wellbeing.…”