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Background: The number of studies that have assessed cognitive illness representations among people diagnosed with depression, and their relationship to health outcomes, has clearly grown. Nevertheless, the relationship between cognitive illness representations and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has received very little research attention. Aims: This study examined cognitive illness representations, based on the self-regulation model (SRM), and the contribution of each dimension of these cognitive illness representations to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among Israeli Arabs diagnosed with depression. Methods: A convenience sample of 160 Israeli Arabs with depression completed measures of cognitive illness representations (identity, timeline, consequences, personal control, treatment control, and coherence), HRQoL, and sociodemographic and health characteristics. Results: Participants reported high levels of negative perceptions in the identity, timeline, and consequences dimensions, and moderate levels in the dimensions of personal control, treatment control, and coherence. Also, participants reported low levels of HRQoL. Identity, consequences, and coherence were found to be the main determinants of HRQoL. Conclusion: This study underlines the crucial role of the identity, consequences, and coherence dimensions in the HRQoL of individuals diagnosed with depression. The findings indicate that clinical interventions targeting cognitive illness representations of individuals with depression, and in particular identity, consequences, and coherence, might be helpful in improving the HRQoL of this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterised by a range of symptoms including acute stress, flashbacks and avoidance of situations that trigger trauma. Women from Arabic-speaking backgrounds have been shown to have a higher likelihood of developing PTSD due to life stressors experienced. This paper aimed to provide an overview of the experiences and social circumstances of Arab women experiencing PTSD in Australia. Family, gender roles, religion, mental health stigma, trauma, re-settlement challenges, acculturation and discrimination were some of the factors explored in this review. The paper also aimed to review evidence-based treatment for PTSD such as cognitive behavioural therapy, narrative exposure and eye movement desensitisation therapy and whether these westernised approaches can extend to women from Arab backgrounds. Directions for culturally appropriate interventions and how to adapt treatments to suit the needs of individuals from the Arab community experiencing PTSD are discussed as well as considerations for specifically supporting women from Arab backgrounds who need treatment. Future avenues for research are canvassed and discussed within. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: (1) Women from Arabic speaking backgrounds in Western countries have been shown to have a higher likelihood of developing PTSD due to the life stressors that they have experienced. (2) Particular life stressors include migration and acculturation stressors, marginalisation, financial concerns, family responsibilities and for some, family violence which can exacerbate distress and contribute to the expression of PTSD symptoms. (3) No effective PTSD treatments for Arab populations in general, let alone Arab women have been identified in research. What this topic adds: (1) Effective mental health treatment for Arab women must take into consideration certain cultural values such as family, women's role/status and stigmas around mental health. (2) Some of the main factors to consider include beliefs and values, communication and language, shame, strict gender roles and religious healing. (3) There is a significant need for immediate future research to be conducted for this community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Providing care for family members of individuals with dementia can be accompanied by a myriad of emotions, usually involving negative as well as positive feelings, or "ambivalent feelings." Recent studies conducted among family caregivers of people with dementia have shown ambivalent feelings to be associated with serious psychological consequences, such as increased depression. However, little is known about the path leading from ambivalent feelings to depression. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the interplay of ambivalent feelings and depression with family caregivers' psychosocial resources—that is, their coping strategies and social support. Methods: A cross-sectional study using face-to-face interviews (via structured questionnaire) was conducted with 175 Israeli Arab family caregivers (adult children and spouses) of elderly people with Alzheimer's disease (87.4% female; 72% adult children; mean age = 54.28). Results: Overall, the participants reported a mild level of depression (mean = 7.93; SD = 4.30; range 0–15) and a moderate level of ambivalent feelings (mean = 1.63; SD = 1.04; range 0–3). Additionally, as expected, ambivalent feelings made a unique—although modest—contribution, adding an additional 6% (p < 0.001) to the explanation of depression (R 2 = 0.56, p <0.001). Whereas, neither problem-focused coping nor emotion-focused coping played a significant role in mediating the relationship between ambivalent feelings and depression, social support did mediate the relationship between these variables. Conclusions: Our findings show that strengthening and expanding social networks among Israeli caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease can minimize the impact of experiences of emotional feelings on depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-criticism constitutes an important risk factor to psychopathology. However, it has never been investigated in the context of health anxiety. The authors examined the role of self-criticism in health anxiety in Arab and Israeli young adults, while controlling for known predictors of health anxiety -- anxiety sensitivity, depression, major and minor stressful events, and alexithymia -- and related outcomes (e.g., reassurance seeking, avoidance). Both main effects and stress-diathesis patterns involving self-criticism were hypothesized. Measures of the above variables were administered to 111 Arabs and 194 Jews (age range: 29-33) via the online Qualtrics system, and General Linear Modeling analyses were conducted to test our hypotheses. A main, but not stress-diathesis, effect of self-criticism on symptoms of health anxiety was found. The findings highlight the potential involvement of self-criticism in health anxiety, but caution against stress-diathesis explanations of this involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for 25% to 45% of deaths among Arab people. The purpose of this review was to investigate the level, predictors, motivators, and barriers to adherence to lifestyle recommendations among Arab patients with CVD. Method: A systematic search of the literature was conducted and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. MEDLINE, EMCARE, CINAHL, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched. Studies that explored adherence to a healthy lifestyle among Arab adult patients with CVD were included. Results: Twelve studies were included. Quantitative results showed low adherence among Arab people with CVD. Qualitative synthesized results revealed that internal motivators, personal desire as well as structural drivers impact the patient's ability to adhere to a healthy lifestyle. Discussion: Multidimensional solutions that consider religion and culture and include active involvement of families are required to improve adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative exploratory study examined transcultural and familial factors involved in bilingualism and minority language transmission among French and Arabic-speaking children. Participants included 30 children aged 4 to 6 years, born in France, and their bilingual French-Maghrebi Arabic-speaking parents. Children's bilingual language profiles were assessed with the ELAL Scale for Maghrebi Arabic (minority language) and the Neel Scale for French (majority language). Mothers participated in qualitative interviews about cultural and language practices and representations. Interview contents were compared with the children's language profiles. Results indicated that parents closely associated the transmission of the Arabic language with their cultural heritage transmission. The parents of fluent bilinguals had a strong desire to transmit the minority language. Mothers of minority language dominant bilingual children reported little perception of change in their lives since migration. Half of the mothers of majority language dominant bilingual children reported relationship or emotional difficulties with their children. Four minority language transmission types were identified: direct parent-child transmission; indirect transmission through private classes; indirect transmission through visits to family in the parents' native countries; and alternative transmission by another family member. Direct parent-child transmission was most frequent among the fluent bilinguals. Families' processes of hybridity were related to language transmission and bilingual development of children. Parental cultural affiliations to native country were related to minority language transmission. Perception of change since migration and affiliation to host country may also play a role in harmonious bilingual development. Moreover, the quality of family relationships can affect minority language transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young Arab women who have been abused in childhood are vulnerable due to their marginalized positions in Israeli society. These positions include their gender, age, ethnicity, and nationality, alongside facing abuse. These intersecting positions may jeopardize their developmental process into adulthood. In this qualitative study of 20 young Arab women in Israel, we analyzed their coping processes following multitype maltreatment in childhood and adolescence. In the short term, we identified four strategies of coping: keeping problems to oneself, self-blame, giving up, and using stress relief practices. In the long term, we identified two main patterns of coping: distancing and integration. The integration pattern was manifested in two ways. One was a more accepting tone of the sociocultural reality through the use of rationalization and a positive restructuring of the self. The other was a more critical tone toward Arab society. Our findings underscore the influences of the sociocultural environments that shape the coping processes of young Arab women who have experienced girl abuse. Moreover, our study suggests that the developmental stage of young adulthood may be a critical phase for reaching out to young Arab women who have experienced girl abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies on honor killings have been conducted in Arab and Muslim countries, but few have addressed the issue in relation to Arab and Muslim populations living in Western countries, who are influenced by the values of two cultures: their traditional-patriarchal culture of origin and modern-liberal Western culture. The purpose of the present study was to examine the connection between acculturation patterns and attitudes of Israeli Arabs toward honor killings. A structured quantitative questionnaire was administered to a sample of 409 Arab Israeli, 179 men and 230 women, with a mean age of 34.1 (SD = 12.04). The findings show that 44% of study participants adopted a pattern of separation from Israeli society, 37.7% a pattern of integration, 9.5% a pattern of assimilation, and 8.8% a pattern of marginalization. A two-way ANOVA test found an interaction between acculturation patterns and gender in relation to attitudes toward honor killings. The attitudes of women who adopted the assimilation pattern toward honor killings were more negative, whereas men who adopted this pattern showed more positive attitudes toward honor killings. The importance of the study for research and its educational-preventive aspects are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A middle-range theory of heart failure self-care, derived from the self-care deficit theory of nursing, was tested among 175 Arab American older adults with heart failure. The middle-range theory achieved good statistical fit, but not all hypothesized relationships were supported. Specifically, conceptualizing basic conditioning factors as a single latent variable was not supported. However, individual factors of depression, social support, and time living with heart failure had a direct effect on both self-care agency and quality of life. Understanding predictors and outcomes of self-care within a theoretical framework is essential in caring for patients with heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research demonstrates a causal link between increased exposure to racial discrimination and adverse health outcomes among diverse racial and ethnic populations in the U.S. However, most research on Latinx communities overlooks how discrimination varies according to individual accounts of how their race is perceived by others. To address this gap, our study draws from critical race theory to analyze a new multi-dimensional measure of racial status – 'street race' and its association with discrimination experiences. We analyzed data from the 2015 Latino National Health and Immigration Survey (n = 1,493). Our main dependent variables are experiences of everyday discrimination and our explanatory variables are five mutually exclusive categories of 'street race.' We estimated a series of logistic regression models, which disaggregated the 'street race' measure, to better understand everyday discrimination experiences across street race categories. We found that Latinxs who are racialized on the street as Black or as Arab/Middle-Eastern relative to White were more likely to have experienced discrimination because of their race/ethnicity. They were also more likely to have experienced discrimination in the employment domain, by police, in the housing market, as consumers in shops or restaurants, and while receiving medical care. Employing a critical race approach, our study expands the conceptual measurement of discrimination to incorporate a more nuanced approach that captures interpersonal racism based on 'street race.' Further research will benefit from employing our 'Critical Street-Race' theory for developing equity-focused multi-level interventions at the interpersonal, community, and policy levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined two angles of childbirth anxieties of Jewish and Arab pregnant women in Israel during the COVID‐19 pandemic (March‐April, 2020). Specifically, we examined the contribution of personal resources: self‐compassion and perceived social support, as well as a couple of COVID‐19‐related fears of being infected and concern for the foetus, to both the woman's global fear of childbirth (FOC) and her COVID‐19‐related childbirth anxiety. Participants were Jewish and Arab pregnant women (n = 403) aged 20–47, who completed a set of structured self‐report questionnaires from 18 March to 9 April 2020. Findings indicated that Arab women reported higher level of COVID‐19‐related childbirth anxiety and COVID‐19‐related fears of being infected and concern for the foetus. In addition, poorer health, being an Arab woman, being in the third trimester, lower self‐compassion, and higher COVID‐19‐related fears contributed significantly to greater COVID‐19‐related childbirth anxiety. Furthermore, poorer health, being primiparous, at‐risk pregnancy, lower self‐compassion and higher fear of being infected contributed significantly to greater FOC. Importantly, social support was found to moderate the association between self‐compassion and FOC. The results highlight the need to be attentive to pregnant women in times of crisis, and in particular to especially vulnerable subgroups, such as cultural minorities. They also highlight the importance of personal resources that may be applied in targeted interventions to reduce distress in vulnerable populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young adults are a high‐risk group for experiencing loneliness. We examine (1) the prevalence of loneliness among young adults in three ethnocultural groups in Israel: native Jews, former Soviet Union immigrants and Arabs; (2) the associations between loneliness and ethnicity, perceived poverty, physical and mental health, perceived discrimination, social capital and online social capital; (3) the distinct sensitivity of the three ethnocultural groups to the determinants of loneliness. Cross‐sectional representative data for individuals aged 20–34 were taken from the 2016 to 2017 Israeli Social Surveys (N = 4253). Hierarchical logistic models were estimated to predict loneliness. Differences in the prevalence of loneliness were observed among the groups, with immigrants at higher risk. We found both common and distinct risk factors among the groups and only little evidence for moderation. Ethnic differences in loneliness between the native Jews and the Arabs can be ascribed to differences in their demographic characteristics and the prevalence of other risk factors. The risk for loneliness remained higher for immigrants after controlling for the entire set of risk factors. Eliminating the possibility that immigrants are more sensitive to any risk factor considered suggests the effect of ethnicity per se or rather that other factors affect loneliness in young immigrant adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Access to healthcare services has major implications for vulnerable populations' health. Socio-cultural and gender characteristics shape the utilization and access of healthcare services among ethnic minorities worldwide. One such vulnerable ethnic minority is the Arab Bedouin women in Israel. As women, they are marginalized in their community, where women do not have full equity and they experience multiple barriers to healthcare services The main objective of this study is to provide a nuanced, experiential, emic description of healthcare accessibility issues among Bedouin women in Israel. Identifying the barriers, they face in accessing healthcare may help healthcare policymakers make changes based on and tailored to Bedouin women's needs. Methods: A qualitative study included in-depth semi-structured interviews with 21 Arab Bedouin village residents, consisting of 14 women and 7 men. Eligible participants were Arab Bedouins over 18 years of age and who used healthcare services at least once in the last 5 years. The interviews were carried out in Arabic-Bedouin dialect and included demographic questions, open-ended questions that asked about participants' perceptions regarding their experiences with healthcare services, including the factors that helped and hindered them in accessing these services and questions regarding suggestions for improving the accessibility of healthcare services based on the identified needs. Data collected were analyzed using thematic analysis. Study trustworthiness was ensured using audit, reflexivity, and peer debriefing. Results: Arab Bedouin women experienced varied barriers while accessing healthcare services. This study uncovered how language, cultural and gender barriers intersect with other disadvantages ingrained in social norms, values and beliefs and affect the access of a minority women subgroup to healthcare services. The participants identified subgroups of Bedouin women (e.g. elderly Bedouin women) affected differently by these barriers. Conclusion: Taking into consideration the identified needs and the Arab Bedouin women's unique characteristics, along with adopting the intersectional approach should help improve access to healthcare services among such a vulnerable subgroup and other subgroups within minorities worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social support can play a crucial role in psycho-social well-being of people with chronic conditions. There is limited information about the experiences, barriers and sources of social support of Arab people affected by chronic conditions. The purpose of this review is to explore the experiences, barriers and sources of social support of Arab people affected by chronic conditions. A scoping review of the literature, based on Preferred Reporting Items for Scoping Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Articles (n = 13) were identified for appraisal based on a group of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eight articles were included in the final analysis. Three broad themes were identified: (a) Social support benefits—physical, emotional and financial benefits; (b) Source of social support—family and friends support, and (c) Support services utilization—cultural barrier, Arab migrants language and unfamiliarity with the health system barriers. Appropriate future support programs should be tailored based on Arab cultural beliefs and the inherent responsibility of the family together inside the Arab community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children enables earlier access to services and better ability to predict subsequent development. A vast body of literature consistently shows discrepancies in the age of diagnosis between children from varying socio-economic levels, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The present study examines the effect of sociodemographic factors on age of ASD diagnosis among the three primary ethnic sectors in Jerusalem region: secular and modern religious Jews, ultra-Orthodox Jews and Arabs. Findings indicate minimal differences in age of diagnosis prior to the age of six, although Arab children of this age were largely minimally verbal. After age six, no Arab children were referred for an evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression in older adults may result from a variety of reasons such as loneliness feelings and malnutrition. Objective: To examine the direct and indirect effect of loneliness feelings on depressive symptoms, mediated by malnutrition, among older adults from different cultures during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic quarantine. Method: A convenience sample of 101 Arabs and 100 Jewish older adults aged 65 and over was interviewed. Using bootstrapping, we tested the strength and significance of the conditional indirect effect of malnutrition (mediator) on the relationship between loneliness feelings and depressive symptoms. Results: The relationship between loneliness feelings and depressive symptoms was mediated by malnutrition and Arab older adults reported a higher level than Jewish older adults of loneliness, depression, and malnutrition during the Covid-19 pandemic quarantine. Conclusions and implications: To reduce loneliness feelings, depressive symptoms, and malnutrition in times of crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic, it is essential to develop new communication methods for and with older adults in general, with particular attention paid to ethnic differences, that will be effective in reducing loneliness and in promoting nutrition intervention. Possible solutions include new social network technologies for reducing loneliness, with continued reliance on phone communication for combined intervention that includes psychological support accompanied by instructions for a healthy lifestyle and malnutrition prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research focuses on postpartum depression (PPD) among modern Arab women living in traditional societies. The purpose of the project is to explore the potential impact of the hitherto unstudied factors of level of modernism/traditionalism and the quality of spousal relationship. This study included 1202 participants of different levels of modernism, who completed research questionnaires. The finding showed that 15.2% of the participants suffered from PPD. Modern women suffered from PPD more than their traditional peers. Problematic spousal relationship did not affect PPD among the modern women. About one-third of the respondents were not familiar with the concept of PPD. Depressed respondents refused to disclose their predicament because of the negative stigma attached to PPD and the fear that the husband would marry a second wife. Traditional orientation serves as a resilience factor, which decreases the risk for PPD. It is highly recommended to design and implement antenatal and postnatal education programs for all married women and raise their awareness of PPD and feasible solutions. It is highly important to promise and secure full confidentiality while providing professional treatment. It is also recommended to offer marital counseling for couples who experience problematic relationship communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aims to examine the challenges faced by migrant Arab Muslim women in accessing maternity services and to suggest ways to improve the childbirth experience for them. Methodology: An interpretive ontological–phenomenological perspective guided by the philosophical tenets of Heidegger was used to examine the childbirth experiences of Arab Muslim women. Results: The sample size was 24 in-depth semistructured audiotaped interviews with eight women in the United Kingdom. The "Vulnerable Woman" was the main theme of our findings, which was discussed in five subthemes: language exclusion, discrimination and prejudice, bureaucracy and "stiff upper lip," conflicting ideology, and the conventional as strange. Conclusions: Maternity care should be culturally competent and emphasize the importance of recognizing differences as well as creating trusting relationships. At the same time, midwives should be aware of the dangers of labeling women because of their cultural and religious beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated how changes in the status of women in the Israeli Arab sector are perceived in light of the role of women as main caregivers of older adults. Interviews with 25 older adults and 27 family members were conducted. Qualitative analysis consisted of constant comparisons and contrasts of relevant themes. Two main themes emerged from the interviews. The first theme was the expected and actual role of women. The immediate response of most interviewees was the expectation that women are responsible for housework in their own home and in that of their aging parents. The second theme was the changes in the woman's status in the Arab society. Most respondents noted that women today are very busy, and they sometimes work outside the home. In other words, the themes reflect the conflict between tradition and the rules that were followed in the past, and the changes that have appeared in recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive role of life satisfaction, perceived social support, and psychological problems on loneliness among Palestinian university students in the West Bank. Participants were 254 volunteer undergraduate students (50.4% males and 49.6% females), ranging from 18 to 26 years of age. Data was collected using the Loneliness Scale (UCLA), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Psychological Problems Scale and a Demographic Information Form. There was a significant gender bias towards loneliness, male students being lonelier than female students. Results showed that students who had higher loneliness, felt less satisfied with their life and perceived less support from friends, family and significant others. Furthermore, students who had high loneliness also presented more psychological problems. These results also indicated that, after accounting for psychological problems, life satisfaction, and social support from friends and significant others are negative predictors of loneliness. These findings suggest that universities should create strategies to improve well-being and social support to protect students from the negative effects of loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chicago is among the top five metropolitan areas in the United States where Arab Americans reside; however, we have little available data on their perceptions of personal or community health. We collected 200 community health surveys in collaboration with a community-based organization that serves mainly Arabs in Chicago's southwest suburbs. The survey evaluated perceived community and personal health. In a mostly female, married, and low-income sample, participants identified cancers, diabetes, and high blood pressure/cholesterol as the top three health problems, while alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and overweight/obesity as the top three risky behaviors within the community. Gender differences, age differences, and educational level differences were found on certain determinants of health regarding the health of the community, perceived health problems, and risky behaviors. Our data validates previous findings from the literature highlighting cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure as health priorities among Arabs, but offers new insights into unidentified issues within the Arab American community in Southwest Chicago such as alcohol, drug abuse, and child neglect/abuse. Furthermore, our findings warrant the need for classifying Arabs as a separate minority population facing health disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to National Gang Center, 2012 statistics, 30,700 gangs existed in the United States with an approximate membership of 850,000 people. Although female gang members account for less than 10% of total membership, their numbers and violence among them are increasing as of 2002. Due to their intersectional invisibility, research and interventions for gang members have been based primarily on the experiences of boys and men. Therefore, we examined the narratives of six female former gang members, including two Latinas, three African American women, and one Arab/Muslim woman. Structural intersectionality guided our analysis of social institutions navigated by participants, including family, gangs, and the legal system. We identified various forms of trauma experienced by all participants, as well as how they exercised perceived power gained by joining a gang. Recommendations to mental health practitioners include careful attention to context and culture, and the embracing of intersectional cultural humility in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The expected rise in the number of persons with dementia is accompanied by an increasing interest in understanding and reducing the stigmatic beliefs experienced by family caregivers of persons with the disease. While researchers have recently distinguished between family caregivers' perceptions of public stereotypes (i.e., courtesy stigma) and the internalization of these perceptions (i.e., affiliate stigma), no study has yet assessed the characteristics of dementia caregivers who internalize courtesy stigma and how they do so. The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of family caregivers of persons with dementia who internalize courtesy stigma, and to investigate this internalization process. Method: Structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 175 Israeli Arab family caregivers (87.4% female; 71.4% adult children; mean age = 54.28) for persons with Alzheimer's disease. Results: Overall, half of the participants reported experiencing affiliate stigma as a result of taking care of a relative with dementia. Regression analyses showed that lower educational level, increased courtesy stigma and lower levels of social support were the main predictors of affiliate stigma. Social support partially mediated the association between courtesy and affiliate stigma. Conclusion: Our findings provide important insights for the conceptual understanding and the development of interventions to reduce stigma among family caregivers of persons with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LGBT Arab clients who enter psychotherapy typically wish to change their sexual orientation. This article draws on writings by Winnicott and Ogden and on current discourse about sexuality in the Arab world to explore how LGBT Arab clients responded to initial phases of therapy with an Arab, traditional, psycho-dynamically trained female therapist. We focus specifically on the notions of true and false self, transitional space, and on role of naming in creating safe transitional therapeutic space where Arab, traditional LGBT clients came to express their unique thoughts and desires related to their non-heterosexual orientations. We also illustrate how clients came to share and experience 'unlived' parts of their sexual identities and describe common aspects of the transference and countertransference relationships. Change, experienced differently by clients and the therapist, was a central theme in the early transference and countertransference relationship. Names became an important port of entry and facilitated the creation of a safe transitional space with my clients. Words helped to humanise what had been unspeakable and unbearable experience and allowed clients to begin to openly accept and share the realities of their sexual orientations even within the confines of severe social and cultural demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To estimate the lifetime prevalence and potential determinants of psychotic experience(s) (PEs) in the general population of Qatar – a small non-war afflicted, conservative, high-income, middle-eastern country with recent rapid urbanization including an influx of migrants. Methods: A probability-based sample (n = 1353) of non-migrants and migrants were interviewed face-to-face and administered a 7-item psychosis screener adapted from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, the Kessler 6-item psychological distress scale, and the 5 items assessing odd (paranormal) beliefs and magical thinking (OBMT) from the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire. Using bivariate and logistic regression analyses, lifetime prevalence rates of PEs were estimated then compared before and after adjustment for socio-demographics, Arab ethnicity, psychological distress, and OBMT. Results: Prevalence of PEs was 27.9%. Visual hallucinations were most common (12.8%), followed by persecutory delusions (6.7%) and auditory hallucinations (6.9%). Ideas of reference (3.6%) were least prevalent. PEs were significantly higher in Arabs (34.7%) compared with non-Arabs (16.4%, p < 0.001) with the exception of ideas of reference and paranoid delusions. Female gender was associated with a higher prevalence of PEs in the Arab group only (p < 0.001). Prevalence of PEs was significantly higher among Arabs (48.8% v. 15.8%, p < 0.001) and non-Arabs (35.2% v. 7.3%, p < 0.001) with OBMT. Arab ethnicity (OR = 2.10, p = 0.015), psychological distress (OR = 2.29 p = 0.003), and OBMT (OR = 6.25, p < 0.001) were independently associated with PEs after adjustment for all variables. Conclusions: Ethnicity, but not migration was independently associated with PEs. Evidence linking Arab ethnicity, female gender, and psychological distress to PEs through associations with OBMT was identified for future prospective investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined age‐related differences among Israeli youth regarding the complexity of their mental images of Jews and Arabs, two groups that are adversaries in the Middle East conflict. The participants, 494 Jewish children and adolescents ranging from 8–16 years old each, drew two human figures, one Jewish and one Arab, and then attributed a forename and a profession to each drawn image. Four complexity variables were scored as follows: image complexity (number of items included in the figure), embellishments (number of items added to the drawing and in the space around the figure), image name, and image profession. Overall, participants depicted members of their in‐group as more complex. However, early adolescence was found to be a critical age at which differences emerged. The findings suggest that introducing complexity to social representations in early adolescence may facilitate prevention of negative associations related to outgroups and enhance intervention to reduce stereotypes, prejudice, and racism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes relative deprivation as a possible factor of sociopolitical instability during the Arab Spring events using the methods of correlation and multiple regression analysis. In this case, relative deprivation is operationalized in two ways: (a) through the indicator of subjective feeling of happiness on the eve of the events of the Arab Spring, and (b) through the scale of decrease of the subjective feeling of happiness on the eve of the events of Arab Spring. It is shown that the change in the level of subjective feeling of happiness between 2009 and 2010 is a powerful, statistically significant predictor of the level of destabilization in Arab countries in 2011. The next most powerful predictor is the mean value of the subjective feeling of happiness in the corresponding country for 2010. At the same time, the fundamental economic indicators we tested, while controlling for them, have turned out to be extremely weak and at the same time statistically insignificant predictors of the level of sociopolitical instability in the Arab countries in 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is based on a participatory, context‐informed study that examined perception of 'risk' and 'protection' among 30 Bedouin children aged four to five. It was conducted in the Bedouin unrecognised villages — Southern Israel and utilised photography, drawings and verbal explanations. The analysis yielded seven themes representing children's perceptions of risk and protection. It indicated that children facing extreme adversity were aware of numerous risk conditions, including a lack of infrastructure and the fear of losing their homes, thus adversely affecting their well‐being. Children's insights, and suggested modes of protection, as the study findings reveal, are crucial for promoting children's welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygamous marriages are widespread and accepted among Israel's Bedouin-Arabs. Yet despite polygamy's many effects on family members, there is almost no research on the experience of adolescents in these families and the effects of the second marriage on their relationship with the father. The current study is a pioneering effort to shed light on the feelings of severe injury among adolescent girls whose fathers have taken a second wife. Thirty in-depth interviews were conducted in 2016 and 2018 with participants ages 18–22, and the data underwent a qualitative thematic analysis. The findings shed light on parent–child relations in the context of marriage, separation, and family reconstitution. They highlight situations of family conflict that generate stress for family members. Three coping patterns of the adolescent girls are identified, offering a glimpse of how a generation of young women in patriarchal traditional societies may begin to challenge longstanding and widely accepted practices and ideas regarding the family. Interventions are proposed at the macro, mezzo, and micro levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young Arab women (YAW) in Israel who have been abused in childhood may experience barriers to both formal and informal support as an ethnic minority and a gender exposed to exclusion, discrimination and oppression. However, only scant reference has been made to this problem in the literature. Here, in a qualitative study of twenty YAW in Israel who had experienced abuse in childhood, we explored their perception of barriers to support following the abuse. Theoretical understandings were developed using a grounded theory approach. The ecological theory and the intersection of the marginal positions theory further developed emergent theoretical understandings during analysis. The main findings of the study are based on three major meta-categories: sociopolitical barriers, sociocultural barriers and intra-interpersonal barriers. These meta-categories, which create a mechanism of silencing the abuse, reflect a cumulative effect of the barriers ranging from macro-levels to micro-levels. The article discusses the implications of the findings on social policy and social work training in order to enhance culturally- and gender-adapted treatment programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In this study, we assessed the psychometric properties of the Hebrew version of the 20-item Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Methods: We had 180 Israeli-Arab male adolescents ranging in age from 12 to 16 (M = 13.92, SD = 1.42) complete the IAT and report their pornography viewing habits, their physical activity rate, and their grades at school. Results: We used exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to determine the tool’s structure, resulting with one-factor and 2-factor solutions both accounting for at least 50% of the variance explained by the models (using EFA). Upon dropping item 12 and items 12 and 15 from the one-factor model and the 2-factor model, respectively, the models demonstrated adequate psychometric properties (.73 ≤ α ≤ .94) and fitted fairly with the data (using CFA). The IAT scores correlated significantly with concurrent reports of the participants’ pornography viewing, grades at school, and physical activity rate, reinforcing the tool’s construct validity. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the IAT is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring Internet addiction among literate Israeli-Arab male adolescents for whom Hebrew is their second language and, presumably, other Israeli adolescents for whom Hebrew is the native language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient trust is positively related to health outcomes, but there remain barriers to patient trust in physicians. This narrative study analyzed patient experiences and highlights barriers to patient trust underlying communication with physicians in acute care. Snowball sampling was used. Informants were 12 participants, in poor physical health, upon discharge from a 3-week hospitalization in an acute-care setting at an Israeli public general hospital. Two narrative interviews were conducted with each participant upon and after discharge. Findings suggest presurgery barriers to trust (lack of acknowledgment of patient's crisis, underrating patient's autonomy, and use of unique empathy) and postsurgery barriers to trust (lack of attentive listening, lack of medical professionalism, and delegitimization to patients' self-alienation). Two common narrative identities emerged linking trust with self-worth. To build trust, physicians are called upon to extend their dedication from dedication to improve clinical outcomes to dedication to improve clinical outcomes and preserve patients' self-worth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several research studies from the USA and Western industrialized countries have reported a negative association between religiosity and anxiety. However, Arabic studies using mainly Muslim samples are limited. The objective of the present study was to apply meta-analysis statistical techniques to 10 Arabic studies of this association. All of the respondents were Arab citizens, ranging in age between 14 and 43 years, and the vast majority of them were Muslims. Religiosity and anxiety were assessed with seven different scales. In all of the studies, the administration of the scales was in small group sessions and in the Arabic language. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between the religiosity and anxiety scale scores. All the correlations were negative. All but one were statistically significant, ranging from − 0.16 to − 0.43. The mean effect size was − 0.22, and the impact of age and gender on the correlation was not significant. This result suggests that religiosity may affect anxiety by providing buffering and coping mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of a project to translate and validate scales used in the diagnosis and treatment of Arab patients with schizophrenia, this study aimed to explore the experience of clinical research coordinators (CRCs) while administering the Arabic version of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) on Arab schizophrenia patients. We previously reported that the Arabic version of PANSS is a valid and reliable tool to assess Arab patients with schizophrenia. Five CRCs and the principal investigator attended focus group discussions on cultural issues in administering the PANSS. A thematic analysis approach was utilized for data coding and analysis. The results identified issues related to the translation of the instrument, the structure of the interview, the cultural sensitivity of some questions, and the procedures for rating items of the PANSS. Qualitative analysis also identified four main themes relevant to clinical assessment of patients from Middle Eastern cultures: religion, beliefs and values, gender, and semantic expressions. In conclusion, researchers or clinicians administering the PANSS scale interview in Arabic should be trained to consider the roles of local dialects, familiarity with abstract thinking, religion, and social constructs when assessing psychosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of visible minorities are commonly targets of social coercion related to immigration and medical measures. Social coercion is associated with poor mental health outcomes and mistrust of medical services. This study will determine if Afro-Canadian immigrants referred to a Cultural Consultation Service (CCS) in Montreal report more or less medical and immigration coercion compared with other ethnic minorities. We reviewed the charts of 729 referrals to the CCS and gathered data on the 401 patients included in the study. Chi-square statistics examined the relation between minority group and self-reported coercion. Binary logistic regression models controlled for standard sociodemographic variables in addition to ethnicity, language barrier, length of stay in Canada since immigration, refugee claimant status, referral source, presence of psychosis in the main diagnosis, and presence of legal history. Patients were diverse and included 105 Afro-Canadians, 40 Latin Americans, 73 Arab and West Asians, 149 South Asians, and 34 East and Southeast Asians. Being Afro-Canadian was significantly and positively associated with medical coercion (p =.02, 95% CI = 1.15-4.57), while being South Asian was negatively and significantly associated with immigration coercion (p =.03, 95% CI =.29–.93). Members of visible minority communities are not equal in their reported experience of social coercion after arriving to Canada. Future research clarifying pathways to mental health care for immigrants and the experience of new Canadians in immigration and health care settings would give needed context to the findings of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy afflicting women during their lifetime. Screening for breast cancer can reduce mortality through early cancer detection. Lack of knowledge is an important barrier leading to low screening rates. Little research has evaluated breast cancer knowledge and barriers to receiving appropriate screening among Arab Americans. Given that the Arab American population has grown approximately 47% since 2000, this study was designed to assess breast cancer knowledge and screening barriers in an Arab American community. An anonymous survey addressing knowledge assessment and screening for breast cancer was distributed at the Arab Community Center for Economics and Social Services in Dearborn, MI between June 2015 and August 2017. The survey was modified based on a similar study that was conducted Among Adult Saudi women in a primary health care setting. 102 non-BC survivors, 48 BC survivors and 50 men participated in this study. Gaps in knowledge around the role of age and family history, as well as cancer presentation were noted among the participants. Additionally, 51% of non-BC survivors over the age of 40 years have not had a screening mammogram in the past 2 years with leading causes being absence of symptoms, lack of health insurance, and absence of family history. Healthcare providers and community organizations should work towards increasing knowledge levels, reducing misconceptions and improving screening rates for breast cancer among Arab Americans. Increasing community outreach and education and navigating the community's health beliefs and practices can optimize the process of information delivery to community members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression rates among Arab adolescents are expected to rapidly increase necessitating research-based data to aid in planning effective strategies to implement primary prevention and treatment interventions. The current study aimed to capture Jordanian adolescents' experience of depression, identify perceived contributing factors, and assess their attitudes toward depression interventions. An exploratory, qualitative design was used to collect data from 92 participants (age range = 14 to 17) through 12 focus groups. Two main analytical themes and related subthemes were identified. The first theme focused on participants' perceived mental health status, Depression rates among Arab adolescents are expected to rapidly increase necessitating research-based data to aid in planning effective strategies to implement primary prevention and treatment interventions. The current study aimed to capture Jordanian adolescents' experience of depression, identify perceived contributing factors, and assess their attitudes toward depression interventions. An exploratory, qualitative design was used to collect data from 92 participants (age range = 14 to 17) through 12 focus groups. Two main analytical themes and related subthemes were identified. The first theme focused on participants' perceived mental health status, Being a Depressed Adolescent, with two related subthemes: Symptom Profiles and Feelings of Uncertainty and Perceived Roots of Depression. The second theme focused on the experience of Living With Depression and encapsulated two subthemes: Seeking Supportive Resources and Escaping From Labeling. The study revealed gender differences in the recognition of depression symptoms, willingness to seek care, the ability to communicate symptoms, expectations of care, and views on the best sources of help. For girls and boys, the fear of being labeled as mentally ill contributes to poor engagement in, adherence to, and use of mental health services. A comprehensive approach that considers Arab adolescents' beliefs, attitudes, and experiences in conjunction with the family and social context is needed to address the burden of adolescent depression in Arab nations. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 57(10), 34–43.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) has not been validated in the Lebanese population and no normative data exist at the national level.Objective: To evaluate the reliability and validity of an Arabic version of MMSE developed by the "Groupe de Travail sur les Démences de l'Université Saint Joseph" (A-MMSE(GTD-USJ)) and to provide normative data by gender, age, and education in adults over 55.Methods: Study design: national cross-sectional survey.Study Population: 1,010 literate community-dwelling Lebanese residents aged 55 and above.Outcomes: reproducibility, internal consistency, sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and area under the curve of the A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) for the detection of cognitive impairment using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) as the gold standard. Normative data were established from 720 healthy adults. A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) scores corresponding to the 5th, 10th, 15th, and 50th percentiles were identified according to gender, age, and education.Results: Intra-rater and inter-rater test-retest score correlations were 0.89 and 0.72, respectively. Cronbach alpha coefficient for internal consistency of the A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) was 0.71. A threshold value of 23 provided a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 89.4%. The area under the curve was 0.92. A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) scores increased with education and decreased with age. Women had significantly lower scores than men. Normative data for A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) stratified by gender, age, and education were generated.Conclusion: In reference to the CDR, the A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) is a valid tool to assess cognitive status among Lebanese subjects aged 55 and above. Normative data will help clinicians in detecting cognitive impairment in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing a community-based, cross-sectional design, the present study explored Arab American adolescents' experiences in cyberbullying and its effect on their health. A convenience sample of 150 Arab American adolescents, ages 12–16, were recruited from two community centers located at Southeast Michigan. The survey focused on cyberbullying victimization and perpetration in the past year including frequencies and types of technology used. Thirty-four percent of adolescents reported cyberbullying victimization and 26.7% reported cyberbullying perpetration at least once in the past year. Males were significantly more involved in both victimization and perpetration. Text messaging, Instagram and Facebook were most commonly used. Perpetration predicted physical complaints (p =.001), whereas, victimization predicted psychological distress (p =.014) after controlling for all demographic variables. Arab American adolescents reported significant cyberbullying perpetration and victimization. Perpetrators experienced more physical symptoms while victims experienced more psychological distress. Implications for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationship between ethnicity, service use and perceptions of service effectiveness is inconclusive. This study examined differences in service use and perceptions of service effectiveness between Israeli Jewish (Jewish) and Israeli Arab (Arab) parental caregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities and dual diagnosis of psychopathology. Methods: Parental caregivers (n = 186) of individuals with intellectual disabilities or dual diagnosis, aged 10 to 30 years, completed a self‐report questionnaire. Results: Arab parental caregivers perceived health services to be more accessible than did Jewish caregivers, but there was no difference between the two groups in the use of the services. Overall, greater enabling factors and accessibility were associated with higher use of education and social services. No differences were found between the groups in their perceptions of service effectiveness. Conclusion: Arab family caregivers use education and social services less than do their Jewish peers, possibly because they have fewer enabling resources. The finding that both groups reported similar use of health services may be explained by a shared perception that informal help may not be suitable for dealing with situations of psychopathology. The similar perceptions of service effectiveness may be explained by extensive services available in Israel, to the satisfaction of both groups, or by the fact that participants perceived these services as their only alternative, and therefore fear losing them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Research on mental illness stigma in the Arab world has traditionally focused on socio-cultural barriers that deprive persons with mental illness from their fundamental human right for privacy and informed consent. The purpose of this paper is to address the question whether or not mental health legislations in a number of Arab countries effectively safeguard the human rights of people with mental illness and protect them from stigmatizing and discriminatory practices. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative review of literature was performed over two rounds of search, targeting published research on mental illness stigma in the Arab world from year 2000 until now and existing national mental health legislations in the Arab world, using English and Arabic databases. Findings: The review reveals that beyond society and culture, persistence of mental illness stigma in the Arab world may be explained by absent or inefficient monitoring mechanisms of mental health legislations and policies within the health-care setting. Although integration of mental health services into the primary health care system is being gradually implemented as a step toward de-stigmatization of mental illness, more remains to be done to change the stigmatizing behavior of the health personnel toward mental illness. Originality/value: Mental health authorities in the Arab world need to be more aware of the public perceptions explaining people's fear and reluctance to seek mental health care, so as to ensure that the control and monitoring mechanisms at both the primary and mental health care levels foster a human rights, culturally competent, patient-friendly and non-stigmatizing model of mental health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Few instruments have been established as valid and reliable to screen for depression among Arab adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the performance of two of the most widely used depression screening instruments, the Beck Depression Inventory‐II (BDI‐II) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies‐Depression scale (CES‐D), with Arab adolescents. Methods: A nationwide school survey was conducted in Jordan. A total of 3,292 adolescents (1,766 females; 54%) aged 13–17 years completed and returned the survey that included the BDI‐II, CES‐D, sociodemographics, and health information. Comparisons were made between the BDI‐II and CES‐D on internal consistency and the reported prevalence of depression in the whole population and subgroups. Multivariate ordinary least squares and logistic regressions were used to assess factors associated with adolescent depression. Agreement regarding recommended cutoffs was also examined using Cohen's k. Results: Depression prevalence was significantly higher with the CES‐D compared to the BDI‐II among the same set of sample subgroups. Depression scores from both instruments showed different statistical associations with established risk factors for adolescent depression. The two instruments showed a moderate agreement (kappa = 0.55), indicating that the instruments do not completely identify the same cases. Different cutoff scores of the CES‐D seemed to perform better for different age groups. Conclusions: Our results varied systematically as a function of the measure used to identify depression prevalence. Caution in the interpretation of associations of depression scores with risk factors is required, as associations may be measurement artifacts. However, given the limited availability of mental health care resources in Arab countries, screening instruments like the BDI‐II and CES‐D may be a critical first step in preliminarily identifying cases, albeit neither can replace the clinical interview. We cautiously recommend using the CES‐D with the risk of over diagnosing, but with the benefit of finding issues which are not typically addressed when there is a lack of mental health services. With the growing social and political unrest in Arab countries, increasing depression rates over time is expected to be a major public health issue. Methodical consideration for how to invest in community‐based screening is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine physical activity (PA) levels, and how sociocultural factors, acculturation, self-efficacy and religion influence PA levels of Arab Muslim mothers of young children living in the United States.Participants and Setting: Arab Muslim mothers of young children (aged <5 years) living in the United States (N=447).Variables Measured: PA levels, sociocultural and religious barriers to PA, self-efficacy, strength of religious faith, and acculturation.Results: Barriers to PA included dress code and negative perception of women who engaged in PA, lack of motivation and stress, and responsibilities. Barriers and self-efficacy significantly influenced PA levels (P<.001) but strength of religious faith and acculturation did not.Conclusions: Confirmation of the relations among self-efficacy, barriers and PA levels among Arab Muslim mothers of young children in the United States may help professionals tailor culturally sensitive interventions to combat obesity and other chronic diseases among this growing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a paucity of epidemiological studies of depression in war-free Arab countries. This study estimated the prevalence and potential determinants of Subthreshold (SUBDE) and Major Depressive Episode (MDE) in migrants and non-migrants typical of Qatar and neighboring Gulf countries.Methods: A telephone survey of a probability-based sample of 2,424 participants was conducted in February 2017. The sample was divided based on nationality and income: Low-Income Migrants (LIMs), High Income Migrants (HIMs), and non-migrants or Qatari Nationals (QNs). Participants completed the nine-item Physician Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Ethnicity, sociodemographics, health- and work-related information was collected. Bivariate and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used.Results: Overall prevalence of any depression ranged between 4.2% (95% CI: 3.3-5.3) and 6.6% (95% CI: 5.4-7.9) for a cut-off of 12 and 10, respectively. The diagnostic algorithm for SUBDE and MDE resulted in estimates of 5.5% (95% CI: 4.4-6.8) and 3.6% (95% CI: 2.8-4.5), respectively. SUBDE, but not MDE rates, were significantly increased in LIMs (OR=2.96, p = 0.004) and HIMs (OR = 2.00, p = 0.014) compared with non-migrants. Arab ethnicity was significantly associated with SUBDE: relative to South Asians (OR = 3.77, p < 0.001) and other ethnicities (OR = 3.61, p = 0.029). Arab ethnicity was significantly associated with MDE: relative to South Asians (OR = 10.42, p < 0.001) and South East Asians (OR = 3.54, p = 0.007).Limitations: Clinical diagnostic interviews for depression were not included.Conclusion: Using the PHQ-9, depression prevalence in Qatar was comparable to general population estimates from Western countries. Migrant status and ethnicity were associated with SUBDE and MDE with implications for early screening and community intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To fulfill the promise of inclusive school environments that support all students, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms by which discrimination and support occur in the school setting and how these mechanisms impact student development. The current study explored ways schools facilitate supportive or marginalizing experiences for first generation Arab heritage youth in the United States and investigated how these experiences impact acculturative experiences and identity negotiation for these students. Focus groups were conducted with 21 Arab American early college students and community dwellers. Qualitative analyses revealed three mechanisms by which the school setting uniquely impacts Arab heritage student's identity negotiation in high school: 1) peer and teacher discrimination; 2) school curriculum treatment of Arab history and culture; 3) and broader school structures that allow for student cultural expression. Implications and suggestions for School Psychologists are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even within counseling psychology's multicultural literature, attention to persons of Arab descent remains limited. Despite counseling psychologists' goal of becoming more multiculturally proficient, the dearth of systematic empirical research on the counseling of Arab Americans is glaring. This exploratory consensual qualitative research (CQR) investigation analyzed interview data from 11Arab American women to explore their experiences at the intersections of ethnic identity and gender. In addition to describing a need to be hyperaware and responsive to societal and familial expectations, participants reported believing that they did not fit American society's view of Arab American women. They also conveyed feelings of invisibility and invalidation due to racial ambiguity, and lack of census recognition. The findings affirm the need to increase psychological focus on Arab American women to facilitate the multiculturally competent practice of counseling psychologists working with this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes how Arab American women understand cultural expectations that govern their lives and bodies, as they grapple with tension between U.S. and Arab cultural narratives. Using data from 20 in-depth interviews with second-generation Arab American women, this study shows how they draw on traditional familial narratives of honor and reputation, (re)interpret acculturation into the United States, and bargain with patriarchy to (re)shape their views on gender, family, and community. Reputation is embedded in everyday language; their narratives unmask fears of scandal when they cross boundaries based on rigid gender expectations about sexual activity, marriage, and divorce. As immigrant women experience new pathways to navigate U.S. and Arab culture, new attitudes toward gender may reshape normative expectations toward gender and family. Grounded in the lived experiences of Arab American women, this study extends scholarship on gendered expectations within the family and community, challenging the cultural policing of women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contact theory is a fundamental theory in social psychology, suggesting that contact between antagonistic groups can reduce prejudice and stereotypes. The current study applies former studies in evaluating a specific case of the connection between contact and attitudes toward minorities in work contexts. A survey was conducted using 873 Israeli Jews in order to assess their attitudes toward the Arab population in Israel and Arabs' work characteristics. The results indicated that the connection between intergroup contact and attitudes is complex. On the one hand, workplace contact between Israeli Jews and Arabs was significantly correlated with the willingness to meet Arabs in and outside the workplace and to perceive Arabs in a less threatening way. However, contact during work was not significantly correlated with the participants' general attitude toward the Arab population. In addition, contact during work was not found to be significantly correlated with the participants' perceptions about Arabs' personality traits or work characteristics. The results of this study also suggest that attitudes toward Arabs' work characteristics have a strong connection to other dimensions of attitudes toward Arabs, even more than the impact of contact during work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vast majority of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research focuses on Caucasian populations in western world countries. While it is assumed that autism rates are similar across ethnic groups regardless of genetic background and environmental exposures, few studies have specifically examined how autism prevalence and severity may differ between majority and minority populations with distinct characteristics. Therefore, we evaluated ethnic differences in ASD prevalence and severity of Bedouin-Arab and Jewish children in the south of Israel. We compared demographic and clinical characteristics of 104 children from a Bedouin-Arab minority with 214 Jewish children who were referred to the main ASD clinic in Southern Israel with suspected communication disorders. Data were obtained from medical records. Jewish children's referral rates were almost 6 times more than that of Bedouin-Arab referral rates (21:1000 and 3.6:1000, respectively). The percentage of high functioning children with ASD was much higher in Jewish than in Bedouin-Arab children (29.6 and 2.6%, respectively). Bedouin-Arab children showed more severe autistic manifestations. Moreover, Bedouin-Arab children were more likely than Jewish children to have additional diagnosis of intellectual disability (14.5 and 6.9%, respectively). Autism prevalence and severity differs markedly between the Bedouin-Arab and Jewish populations in the south of Israel. Most striking is the almost complete absence of children with high-functioning autism in the Bedouin community. A better understanding of the causes for autism prevalence and severity differences across ethnic groups is crucial for revealing the impact of multiple genetic and environmental factors that may affect autism development in each group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]