A group of epidemiologists, including a Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researcher, is advocating for an increased focus on the mental and physical health issues of Arab Americans in the U.S.

In an article published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, the group noted that there is no “checkbox” for Arab/Middle Eastern origin in medical and public health studies, and no Arab American identifier on the U.S. Census—study elements that the research team argues should be added.

Given the current social and political climate in the U.S., the authors said, a better understanding of the mental and physical health needs of the Arab American population is needed.  The impact of stigma, discrimination, and stress has been studied in other populations in the U.S., such as African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans, but not on Arab Americans, they noted.

Co-authors included Dr. Sandro Galea, dean and Robert A. Knox Professor at BUSPH.

To read more about the study, go to: https://www.bu.edu/sph/2017/04/24/more-visibility-of-arab-americans-health-issues-needed/