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The association of perceived abuse and discrimination after september 11,2001, with psychological distress, level of happiness, and health status among Arab Americans

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  • Padela, A.I.
  • Heisler, M.

Abstract

Objectives. We assessed the prevalence of perceived abuse and discrimination among Arab American adults after September 11, 2001, and associations between abuse or discrimination and psychological distress, level of happiness, and health status. Methods. We gathered data from a face-to-face survey administered in 2003 to a representative, population-based sample of Arab American adults residing in the greater Detroit area. Results. Overall, 25% of the respondents reported post-September 11 personal or familial abuse, and 15% reported that they personally had a bad experience related to their ethnicity, with higher rates among Muslims than Christians. After adjustment for socioeconomic and demographic factors, perceived post-September 11 abuse was associated with higher levels of psychological distress, lower levels of happiness, and worse health status. Personal bad experiences related to ethnicity were associated with increased psychological distress and reduced happiness. Perceptions of not being respected within US society and greater reported effects of September 11 with respect to personal security and safety were associated with higher levels of psychological distress. Conclusions. Perceived post-September 11 abuse and discrimination were associated with increased psychological distress, reduced levels of happiness, and worse health status in our sample. Community-based, culturally sensitive partnerships should be established to assess and meet the health needs of Arab Americans.

Suggested Citation

  • Padela, A.I. & Heisler, M., 2010. "The association of perceived abuse and discrimination after september 11,2001, with psychological distress, level of happiness, and health status among Arab Americans," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(2), pages 284-291.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2009.164954_0
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.164954
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    Cited by:

    1. Rengin B. Firat, 2017. "Discrimination and Well-Being: The Moderating Effects of Agentic Value Orientations," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 134(1), pages 167-194, October.
    2. Abdulrahim, Sawsan & James, Sherman A. & Yamout, Rouham & Baker, Wayne, 2012. "Discrimination and psychological distress: Does Whiteness matter for Arab Americans?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(12), pages 2116-2123.
    3. Carr, Joel & James, Jonathan & Clifton-Sprigg, Joanna & Vujic, Suncica, 2022. "Hate in the Time of COVID-19: Racial Crimes against East Asians," IZA Discussion Papers 15718, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Sheena E. Martenies & Chad W. Milando & Guy O. Williams & Stuart A. Batterman, 2017. "Disease and Health Inequalities Attributable to Air Pollutant Exposure in Detroit, Michigan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-24, October.
    5. Samari, Goleen, 2016. "Cross-border ties and Arab American mental health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 93-101.
    6. Simla Güzel & Ayhan Görmüş, 2023. "Prediction of satisfaction indicators increasing the level of happiness: evidence from the Turkish life satisfaction survey," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 3805-3824, August.
    7. Tsai, Alexander C. & Venkataramani, Atheendar S., 2015. "Communal bereavement and resilience in the aftermath of a terrorist event: Evidence from a natural experiment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 155-163.

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