Arab/MENA (Middle Eastern and North African) Americans are an underserved, under researched, and marginalized community (Awad et al., 2019). Arab/MENA Americans are diverse (e.g., heterogeneous national backgrounds, religious identities, acculturation statuses) and exposed to interpersonal discrimination and systemic oppression that affects their physical and mental health (Awad et al., 2019). Despite the risk for morbid health outcomes, there is a paucity of behavioral health intervention and outcome research for Arab/MENA Americans. The proliferation of research on Arab/MENA American psychology has focused largely on describing mental health and other community characteristics that may be salient for assessment and intervention (Abuelezam et al., 2018). The members of this panel conducted a scoping review which revealed an urgent need for intervention and effectiveness research for this population. This panel will discuss current intervention research with Arab/MENA communities and systemic gaps therein, as well as future directions for developing and testing culturally oriented and evidence based interventions. A moderator will facilitate the discussion with questions such as "How do we develop and test interventions that are culturally congruent and affirming for Arab/MENA populations?" Attendees will discuss intervention research with marginalized communities, strategies for ethical community based research, and action planning to include Arab/MENA participants
Aqua 314 - Interactive Panels 2023 APA Division 45 Research Conference researchconference@division45.orgArab/MENA (Middle Eastern and North African) Americans are an underserved, under researched, and marginalized community (Awad et al., 2019). Arab/MENA Americans are diverse (e.g., heterogeneous national backgrounds, religious identities, acculturation statuses) and exposed to interpersonal discrimination and systemic oppression that affects their physical and mental health (Awad et al., 2019). Despite the risk for morbid health outcomes, there is a paucity of behavioral health intervention and outcome research for Arab/MENA Americans. The proliferation of research on Arab/MENA American psychology has focused largely on describing mental health and other community characteristics that may be salient for assessment and intervention (Abuelezam et al., 2018). The members of this panel conducted a scoping review which revealed an urgent need for intervention and effectiveness research for this population. This panel will discuss current intervention research with Arab/MENA communities and systemic gaps therein, as well as future directions for developing and testing culturally oriented and evidence based interventions. A moderator will facilitate the discussion with questions such as "How do we develop and test interventions that are culturally congruent and affirming for Arab/MENA populations?" Attendees will discuss intervention research with marginalized communities, strategies for ethical community based research, and action planning to include Arab/MENA participants