BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE: ACCULTURATION, ETHNIC IDENTITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG MUSLIM INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Abstract

This mixed-methods study examined the relationships among ethnic identity, acculturative stress, and mental health in a sample of 100 Muslim international students (Mean age = 24.74, SD = 4.02) enrolled in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Participants completed the Acculturative Stress Scale for International Students, the revised Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure, and the DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure; a subset of four students also participated in semi-structured interviews. Quantitative analyses revealed that higher acculturative stress significantly correlated with greater psychological symptomatology (r = .33, p < .01), whereas ethnic identity neither predicted acculturative stress (β = .08, p = .41) nor moderated its impact on mental health (interaction β = –.007, p = .50). Secondary analyses indicated that older students, married students, and those with prior mental health diagnoses reported significantly higher acculturative stress levels; no significant differences emerged for gender or ethnic identity across demographic groups. Thematic analysis of interview data identified five overarching themes: acculturation challenges (homesickness, language barriers), reconciliation of religious and cultural identity, experiences of discrimination and “othering”, coping strategies (religious coping, counseling), and personal growth and resilience. Findings underscore the centrality of acculturative stress in shaping mental health and highlight the complex role of ethnic identity, emphasizing the need for culturally responsive interventions in academic settings.