American Muslim Immigrant Mental Health: The Role of Racism and Mental Health Stigma

Abstract

Researchers have found that many American Muslim immigrants (AMIs) suffer from mental health problems, and an array of studies have identified racism and mental health stigma as key factors that negatively impact AMI psychological wellbeing. To date, no one has synthesized this literature into a cohesive review. To address this need, we have reviewed literature on racism and mental health stigma using Bronfenbrenner’s (1977) Ecological Systems Theory as an intersectional framework. Our findings indicate that AMIs’ mental health is impacted by racism and mental health stigma that emanate from distal (i.e., macrosystem) and proximal (i.e., microsystem) settings. We highlight the interactions among these factors, identify gaps in the literature, and detail clinical implications. Specified future directions emphasize the need for more empirical research that considers AMI mental health through a transactional lens.