Wahiba Abu-Ras

The Impact of the September 11, 2001, Attacks on the Well-Being of Arab Americans in New York City

In this exploratory study, eight focus groups were conducted, utilizing 83 participants. A structured, but flexible, interview guided by trauma theory was designed to solicit perspectives on the im...

The Imam's Role in Mental Health Promotion: A Study at 22 Mosques in New York City's Muslim Community

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, New Yorks Muslim communities turned to their mosques for help, but were noticeably hesitant to avail themselves of services offered by the broader community. Research has shown that few mental health professionals are familiar with the Arabic language and Islamic values. Moreover, little is known about Islamic counseling and psychotherapy, or the techniques applied by providers in the mosques to help the Islamic community cope with stressful events. This study is intended to examine the role of imams in Muslim mental health promotion and the worshippers’ attitudes toward mental health services and resources prior to 9/11 and post-9/11. A cross-sectional survey of 22 imams and 102 worshippers from 22 mosques in New York City was conducted. Our results show that, even though the majority of the 22 imams had no formal training in Western psychotherapy intervention, they nonetheless played a major role in the promotion of mental health in the wake of thi...

Risk Factors for Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): The Case of Arab and Muslim Americans Post-9/11

This study examines the association between individual, demographic, and sociocultural variables as predictor factors for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among 350 Arab and Muslim Americans in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. A multiple regression statistical analysis was utilized to examine the factors contributing to depression and PTSD among the study sample. Results indicate that age, education, marital status, access to support, and having children were the most important variables in predicting depression and PTSD among the study sample. Findings may provide the needed knowledge for practitioners and community service providers in assisting Arab and Muslim American victims in coping with trauma and may help in bridging formal and informal support systems that promote culture in a nondiscriminatory and mutually respectful environment.

How Muslim and Non-Muslim Chaplains Serve Muslim Patients? Does the Interfaith Chaplaincy Model have Room for Muslims’ Experiences?

Chaplaincy is typically practiced within the contexts of the Jewish and Christian traditions, and little attention has been paid to the influence of the Islamic perspective of nursing and caring. Therefore, many Muslim patients might not receive appropriate care for their religious and spiritual needs, especially as they relate to daily religious practices and worship, medical ethics, and end-of-life treatment choices. This study examined Muslim and non-Muslim chaplains’ approaches to pastoral care used with Muslim patients in New York City hospitals. The study used in-depth interviews with 33 Muslim and non-Muslim chaplains. The results indicate areas of both convergence and divergence.

Alcohol use among U.S. Muslim college students: risk and protective factors

Drinking behavior among Muslim college students in the United States is unknown. To obtain estimates and examine risk factors, the authors conducted secondary data analysis of the public access database from the 2001 Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study. Two variables were associated with drinking—religious activities, which were protective against drinking, and parental approval of drinking, which was a risk factor for drinking. Although American Muslim students had a low rate of drinking in the past year (46.6%) compared to their U.S. college counterparts, they had a higher rate of alcohol consumption compared to their counterparts in predominately Muslim countries.

Cultural Citizenship and Belonging: Muslim International Medical Graduates in the USA

Abstract This paper explores how a predominantly immigrant interview sample of 62 Muslim physicians articulate their cultural citizenship and sense of “belonging” in the USA. Many Muslim physicians who have come as international medical graduates (IMGs) share the challenges, obstacles, and assets of their IMG peers. Yet within the context of rising Islamophobia after the September 11 (9/11) attacks in the USA, immigrant Muslim physicians encounter “racialized” religious discrimination in the workplace and in local communities. This paper examines how this group actively builds a sense of belonging at multiple levels through the family, community, ethnic and religious institutions; and “represents” Islam in the USA and abroad. We also suggest that integration into the American medical profession facilitates cultural citizenship, and perhaps the “disciplining” of Muslim IMGs into broader American society.

American Muslim Physicians’ Public Role Post-9/11 and Minority Community Empowerment: Serving the Underserved

This study assesses American Muslim physicians’ public role and levels of civic, community, and political involvement; examines the relationship between religiosity and civic/community involvement; and identifies community empowerment and social change. The results show that civic/community action is associated primarily with ones level of religiosity, t = 2.74 (df = 301.3), p < .03; age 2.69 (df = 317.7), p = .007; country of origin, t = 11.5 (df = 2), p = .006; and gender, t = 4.52 (df = 1), p = .03. Participants’ charitable giving, willingness to treat uninsured patients without charge, and provision of financial and medical support suggest that their public role could have health policy and community empowerment implications for civic engagement and positive social change in their community vis-à-vis underserved Americans.

Building Resiliency and Cultural Collaboration Post September 11th: A Group Model of Brief Integrative Psychoeducation for Diverse Communities

This paper describes the goals and implementation of a brief group model of integrative psychoeducation designed to ameliorate the impact of community trauma. This manual-based four-session crisis oriented intervention is present focused and strengths based, and builds on resiliency and collaboration across cultural groups. The model was developed in New York City to serve the needs of community members from diverse ethnic and sociodemographic backgrounds affected either directly or indirectly by the events of September 11th, 2001. Through the integrative psychoeducational groups, participants learn to identify and differentiate the range of stress reactions to traumatic events, varying from normal to pathological. Participants are gradually sensitized to the value of proactive and culturally relevant mental health strategies to build resiliency and hope, and to enhance personal and community awareness. In turn they become more open to the potential for mental health services. Applications for diverse community based settings are presented and discussed. Language: en

Challenges and Determination: The Case of Palestinian Parents of Children With Disabilities:

This article explores, describes, and compares how Palestinian parents of children with disabilities articulate their major challenges and coping strategies and ways in which they adapt to daily routines to care for, support, and address the needs of their children. We held six focus groups, three in the West Bank, Palestine, and three inside Israel with a total sample of 43 participants. The major themes emerged from this study revealed that Palestinian parents in both regions are experiencing major challenges and barriers at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Despite these challenges, the vast majority of the parents appear to be attuned to their children’s special needs and use positive coping methods to deal with their daily stressors. Their coping strategies include religious coping, advocacy, and positive attitudes toward their children. The study findings also highlight the realities of the current sociopolitical context these parents face.

Muslim Americans’ safety and well-being in the wake of Trump: A public health and social justice crisis.

This study examined the perceived impact of religious discrimination and Islamophobia on Muslim Americans’ well-being during the 2016 United States presidential election campaign. Data were collected from a national sample of 1,130 Muslim Americans. Perceived religious discrimination (PRD) was measured using the Perceived Religious Discrimination Scale. Results of canonical correlation analysis showed that perceived Islamophobia was associated with safety (&bgr; = .45, p < .001), level of stress (&bgr; = −.25, p < .001), level of religiosity (&bgr; = −.11, p < .05), and employment (&bgr; = .11, p < .05). PRD was associated with preexposure to religious-based discrimination; &bgr; = −.12, p < .05), safety (.47, p < .001), level of stress (&bgr; = −.33, p < .001), religiosity (&bgr; = −.15, p < .010), and years in the United States (&bgr; = .16, p < .010). Results also suggest that some Muslim subgroups, such as women and older people, may face “double jeopardy” based on multiple stigmatized identities. When addressing mental health concerns in marginalized groups, it is necessary to link health with social justice and examine how social injustices may affect people’s well-being.