The Relationship Between Acculturation and Mental Health of Arab Americans.

This study investigated the relationship between mental health and the degree of acculturation among Arab Americans. Subjects were adults of Arab or Chaldean descent who took part in the 2003 Detroit Arab American Study (DAAS). Data from 1,016 Arab American families revealed that the relationship between acculturation and mental health is complex and influenced by a number of other variables. There was significant evidence that besides demographic variables, factors like religion, discrimination experiences, and age at migration are also related to the mental health of Arab Americans. However, acculturation was not found to be as significant in the current study. Implications for mental health counselors who work with Arab Americans and researchers who study this population are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]