Concern for Face on the Impact of Family Enmeshment and Stress Levels Among Arab Americans
Faculty Mentor
Philip Wong
Major/Area of Research
Clinical Psychology
Description
INTRODUCTION: Research on psychological well-being amongst Arab Americans remains limited despite representing over 3.5 million US residents. Family enmeshment has been associated with increased stress in collectivistic populations yet remains understudied in Arab Americans due to their classification as White in official documentation. This study examined whether concern for face mediates the relationship between family enmeshment and stress amongst Arab Americans.
METHOD: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 180 Arab American participants aged 18–25 years (M = 21.4), who were 1.5th or 2nd generation immigrants, recruited from Long Island University Brooklyn and community samples. Measures included the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale IV Short Form (FACES-IV-SF), Brief Collectivism Questionnaire (BCQ), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Statistical analyses employed PROCESS in Jamovi with 5,000 bootstrapped samples.
RESULTS: Family enmeshment significantly predicted higher stress levels and increased concern for face behaviors. However, concern for face did not significantly predict stress when controlling for enmeshment. The hypothesized mediation effect was not supported, though the direct effect of family enmeshment on stress remained significant.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that whilst family enmeshment significantly increases perceived stress amongst young Arab Americans, concern for face does not mediate this relationship. Results indicate 1.5th and 2nd generation Arab Americans may exhibit reduced collectivistic orientation, or that concern for face may be embedded within enmeshed family patterns. Culturally adapted interventions addressing family boundaries and acculturative stress are recommended.
Concern for Face on the Impact of Family Enmeshment and Stress Levels Among Arab Americans
INTRODUCTION: Research on psychological well-being amongst Arab Americans remains limited despite representing over 3.5 million US residents. Family enmeshment has been associated with increased stress in collectivistic populations yet remains understudied in Arab Americans due to their classification as White in official documentation. This study examined whether concern for face mediates the relationship between family enmeshment and stress amongst Arab Americans.
METHOD: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 180 Arab American participants aged 18–25 years (M = 21.4), who were 1.5th or 2nd generation immigrants, recruited from Long Island University Brooklyn and community samples. Measures included the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale IV Short Form (FACES-IV-SF), Brief Collectivism Questionnaire (BCQ), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Statistical analyses employed PROCESS in Jamovi with 5,000 bootstrapped samples.
RESULTS: Family enmeshment significantly predicted higher stress levels and increased concern for face behaviors. However, concern for face did not significantly predict stress when controlling for enmeshment. The hypothesized mediation effect was not supported, though the direct effect of family enmeshment on stress remained significant.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that whilst family enmeshment significantly increases perceived stress amongst young Arab Americans, concern for face does not mediate this relationship. Results indicate 1.5th and 2nd generation Arab Americans may exhibit reduced collectivistic orientation, or that concern for face may be embedded within enmeshed family patterns. Culturally adapted interventions addressing family boundaries and acculturative stress are recommended.