Resilience enablers at the intersection of minority status and cultural expectations: Insights from at-risk young adult Arabs in Israel.

Abstract

Despite the growing body of resilience research focusing on children and youth in stressful situations and environments, limited attention has been paid to the resilience of at-risk young adults and those from minority backgrounds, such as Arabs in Israel. Their status as at-risk members of an ethnic minority within a collectivist and patriarchal culture makes their situation particularly challenging, warranting greater empirical attention. In this study, we examined the resilience-enabling resources of this particular cohort within their sociopolitical, sociocultural, and interpersonal contexts. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 35 at-risk young adults. Constructivist grounded methodology revealed two core themes: (a) self-directed resilience and (b) family relations and institutional enablers. The findings demonstrate the complex dual influence of culture and ethnic minority status in shaping these young adults' resilience. Certain culturally rooted risks appeared to catalyze the development of internal resilience capacities, while family cultural norms and supportive relationships also functioned as powerful and indispensable pillars of resilience. The findings hold significant practical implications for the design of culturally sensitive interventions that address structural vulnerabilities while leveraging existing capabilities. Furthermore, adopting an identity-specific, strengths-based approach underscores how experiences of marginalization can serve as a foundation for developing unique strengths and competencies during emerging adulthood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).