Has Islamophobia Increased the Mental Illness Symptomology amongst Muslims?
Lopez, Tica
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
2019
84
Psy.D.
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
2019
This study investigated if perceived Islamophobia amongst Middle Eastern Muslims caused an increase in psychological distress. Moreover, the study evaluated how acculturation and barriers to seek treatment may also impact this population. Research surrounding Islamophobia typically consists of why people fear Muslims and people who practice Islam. However, in examining the impacts of Islamophobia, less focus has been on how Muslims are impacted by Islamophobia, and how the increase of Islamophobia in the United States has impacted Muslims' mental health. The PIS, BSI, BACE, & VIA was administered through Survey Monkey. The URL for the Survey Monkey questionnaire was sent by e-mail to Middle Eastern, Muslim adults who reside in the United. A snowball method was used where the original participants forwarded the survey to other individuals who fit the participate criteria. Also, the link of the Survey Monkey questionnaire was placed on an unaffiliated and independent Facebook page that was made solely for the use of this study as well as a public access Facebook page "I'm Muslim and I'm proud" to acquire participants. The study had 91 participants who were about 25 to 34 years old 54 (59.34%). Statistical Analyses, included one-way ANOVAS, independent samples t-test, and Pearson's r correlations were conducted. The study found those participants who perceived higher levels of Islamophobia also endorsed less symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive disorder. Moreover, participants who were less acculturated to the majority population had more barriers to seeking mental health treatment and perceived the majority population as fearing Muslims and Islam. Perceived Islamophobia amongst Middle Eastern Muslims have impacted how this population perceives the majority population and increases their barriers to access treatment.