Cultural Considerations in Working with Arab American Youth

Rana Elmaghraby; Magdoline Daas; Alaa Elnajjar; Rasha Elkady

doi:10.1016/j.chc.2022.06.007

Cultural Considerations in Working with Arab American Youth

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2022 Oct;31(4):719-732. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2022.06.007. Epub 2022 Sep 7.

Authors

Rana Elmaghraby¹, Magdoline Daas², Alaa Elnajjar³, Rasha Elkady⁴

Affiliations

¹ Sea Mar Community Health Centers, 14508 NE 20th Avenue, Suite #305, Vancouver, WA 98686, USA; University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: relmaghrabymd@gmail.com.
² Community Health Network Indianapolis, 6950 Hillsdale Court, Indianapolis, IN 46250, USA; Osteopathic Medical School-Marian University, 6950 Hillsdale Court, Indianapolis, IN 46250, USA.
³ Bradley Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 5775 Post Road, #297, East Greenwich, RI 02818, USA.
⁴ University of Missouri School, of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, DC 067.00, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.

PMID: 36182220
DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2022.06.007

Abstract

There is limited literature on Arab American mental health, particularly among youth. This chapter will provide an overview of the Arab American/MENA population, their migration to the United States, traditional Arab culture and values, Arab American youth identity, acculturation and acculturation stress, the impact of discrimination on Arab American youth, mental illness in Arab American youth, and cultural variables to consider in seeking help. This chapter will provide recommendations and cultural considerations when working with Arab American youth.

Keywords: ARAB culture; Arab American; Discrimination; Mental illness; Middle East and North Africa (MENA); Special considerations; Youth.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Acculturation
Adolescent
Arabs* / psychology
Humans
Mental Disorders*
Mental Health
United States