ABSTRACT
Understanding psychological wellbeing among the general American population is a growing area of research, yet there is still a dearth of knowledge about certain minority and ethnic groups such as Arab Americans. This chapter discusses the literature on psychological wellbeing and mental health issues among Arab Americans. It begins with a review of different definitions of relevant concepts, including mental health, mental illness, and wellbeing. It next provides a brief presentation of the prevalence of major mental health conditions among Arab Americans. Risk and protective factors are then explored. The section that focuses on the risk factors that Arab Americans face mainly emphasizes the impact of immigration and acculturation stressors, discrimination after 9/11, and other sociocultural related stressors, such as stigma and barriers to utilization of services. Sources for resilience in coping with mental health issues include religion and spirituality, ethnic identity, family support, and community resources. A critique of the literature is presented alongside future directions for mental health research with this population.
