The Impact of Religious Behaviors, Islamophobia, Gender Roles, Language Proficiency, and Education Levels on Mental Illness Stigma and Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Arab Women in the U.S.

The official U.S. census does not provide data on the number of Arab Americans in the United States, which hinders studies that focus on this population group to explore their needs and improve access to mental health services. Arab women in America represent a subgroup that has received insufficient attention from researchers, particularly regarding culturally sensitive topics such as mental health problems and their associated stigma. The influence of cultural, social, and religious factors on self-stigma associated with mental illness has not been adequately studied among this marginalized group. While previous research has suggested a relationship between self-stigma, social stigma of mental illness, and help-seeking behavior among Arab American women, no research has examined the concept of stigma itself or its relationship to other variables. This mixed-methods study examined mental illness self-stigma, social stigma, and help-seeking behaviors among Arab American women and how these are influenced by religious behaviors, Islamophobia, gender role expectations, education, and English language proficiency. Survey results from 112 participants showed generally low self-stigma and moderate social stigma. Higher English proficiency and education were linked to lower stigma, while religious behaviors were associated with less help-seeking. Qualitative interviews with seven women revealed barriers to seeking help, including cultural beliefs, cost, language, and past negative healthcare experiences. Islamophobia emerged as a key stressor affecting emotional well-being. The findings highlight the need for culturally and linguistically sensitive mental health services for Arab American women.