Theses and Dissertations

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Date of Award

1-1-2026

Document Type

Dissertation - NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

First Advisor

Alex Cuc

Keywords

accultration; acculturative stress; AMENA; discrimination; integration paradox; microaggressions

Abstract

The Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African (AMENA) population in the United States faces unique socio-political stressors and a history of systemic invisibility. Research shows that their lived experience is characterized by numerous psychological stressors, which can lead to compromised mental health. Despite increased attention to racialized stress in racially minoritized populations over the past several years, little research has focused on the specific pathways of distress within the AMENA community. The purpose of the present study was to identify whether everyday discrimination and microaggressions were associated with increased clinical symptoms, determine the extent to which acculturative stress served as a mediator between discrimination and mental health outcomes, examine whether acculturation strategies moderated these pathways, and use the findings to support the clinical necessity of the newly established 2024 Office of Management and Budget MENA category. Using a cross-sectional design informed by Quantitative Critical Race Theory (QuantCrit), a series of moderated mediation analyses were conducted in a sample of 332 AMENA adults to evaluate these relationships. Results showed that microaggressions were associated with psychological distress, somatic symptoms, and posttraumatic stress disorder, with acculturative stress serving as a significant indirect pathway in these relationships. Findings also suggested an Integration Paradox, as the indirect pathway linking discrimination to somatic symptoms was weaker for the assimilation group than for the integration group. Viewed through a QuantCrit lens, this may challenge traditional models by suggesting that greater integration into the dominant culture does not uniformly protect against distress. Additionally, results showed distinct vulnerabilities across other acculturation strategies, with separation associated with direct trauma from overt hostility and marginalization associated with direct somatic and psychological distress. These findings can inform the development of structurally competent and culturally affirming approaches to improve mental health care for AMENA individuals.

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