Assessing Predictors of Emotional Distress by Immigrant Type: An Exploration of Adult Refugees, Asylees, and SIV Holders in Maryland

Mental health disorders among Middle Eastern immigrant women living in the United States: A scoping review

“…Bulut and Brewster (2021) reported that the average level of psychological distress among Middle Eastern women is 3.584, which is significantly higher than the average level of native‐born White women (2.871). Among a large sample of Middle Eastern female immigrants, 31.1% screened positive for mental health and emotional distress (Mahmood et al, 2020). Among newly arrived refugee women, 53.8% of Iraqi refugees scored positive for mental health disorders (Johnson‐Agbakwu et al, 2014).…”

“…The effect of age also varied depending on the mental health conditions. Younger Middle Eastern population can be at increased risk for mental health illness in general (Mahmood et al, 2020), or specific illnesses such as psychoses (Kroll et al, 2011), and at low risk for conditions like suicide (El‐Sayed et al, 2011) in comparing with older Middle Eastern population. More studies are needed to understand the pattern and assess the risk factors of mental health disorders among different age groups of Middle Eastern women.…”

“…Also, the type of visa that may show the circumstances surrounding migration experience was reported among the factors that predispose Middle Eastern immigrants to a higher risk of mental health disorders. Those holding Special Immigrant visas, which refers to visas given upon arrival due to past services for the U.S. government or military in the immigrant home countries (Arfken et al, 2018; Mahmood et al, 2020) and refugees (Pampati et al, 2018) reported the higher rate of mental health disorders compared to other Middle Eastern population in the U.S. such as immigrant or the U.S.‐born Middle Eastern population. Because most of the studies in this review were conducted on Middle Eastern from Iraq (12.5%) and mostly with Middle Eastern holding special immigrants visa or refugees from Iraq (Arfken et al, 2018; Mahmood et al, 2020), more studies are needed to assess the mental health disorders in immigrants from other countries in the Middle East.…”

“…Age has been included (16.66%, n = 4) as a factor associated with mental health disorders among Middle Eastern immigrants. Kroll et al (2011) andMahmood et al (2020) reported that mental health disorders are higher among the younger population. Mahmood et al (2020) reported that participants under 60 years of age had significantly higher odds of screening positive for emotional distress.…”

“…Kroll et al (2011) andMahmood et al (2020) reported that mental health disorders are higher among the younger population. Mahmood et al (2020) reported that participants under 60 years of age had significantly higher odds of screening positive for emotional distress. Psychosis is also shown to be higher among the younger immigrant population.…”