Risk and Protective Factors for Well-being and Barriers to Help-Seeking Among Arab-Speaking MENA Immigrants and Refugees in North America: A Scoping Review

  • S. Childress
  • , N. Shrestha
  • , E. Covington
  • , L. Stark
  • , I. Seff
  • , B. Black
  • , M. McKay

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

A study conducts a review of risk and protective factors for well-being and barriers to help-seeking among Arab-speaking MENA immigrants and refugees (IRs) in North America. Guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s Scoping Studies Methodological Framework, we use the Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework recommended by Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) for scoping reviews to establish eligibility criteria selecting for original peer-reviewed articles published in English between 1999 and 2022. The search utilizes five databases: PubMed, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete, and Family Studies Abstracts. A total of 47 sources were selected based on the study criteria. Common themes are extracted which generate the identification of key risk and protective factors for well-being and barriers to help-seeking among the target population. The risk factors identified are acculturative stress, prevalence and impact of domestic violence, migration trauma, and intergenerational conflict. Protective factors identified are social support, ethnic and religious identity, and supportive parental and school experiences. Barriers to help-seeking include sociocultural, organizational, legal, and economic factors. Implications for future research and practice with Arab-speaking MENA IRs in North America are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)203-222
Number of pages20
JournalGlobal Social Welfare
Volume12
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2025
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adverse childhood experiences
  • Arab Americans
  • Intimate partner violence
  • MENA
  • Risk and protective factors
  • Well-being

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Risk and Protective Factors for Well-being and Barriers to Help-Seeking Among Arab-Speaking MENA Immigrants and Refugees in North America: A Scoping Review'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this