Dreams Deferred: Exploring the Mental Health and Well-Being of Muslim Adolescents during the Pandemic

Overview: This qualitative study explored the challenges faced by Muslim adolescents during the pandemic. Using purposive sampling, focus groups were conducted with a sample of Muslim adolescents. Participants expressed facing social isolation, hopelessness, depression, and anxiety while having renewed spiritual growth, optimism, and family connectedness.Proposal text:

Purpose: Children mental health is a serious issue on a global and national level (WHO 2019, NIMHD, 2020). The CDC (2020) estimates anywhere from 3 to 10 percent of children encounter mental health and co-occurring issues with anxiety, depression, and behavioral disorder being the most prominent. Given the pervasiveness of mental health issues in our society, the Covid pandemic has further exacerbated the impact of mental health and co-occurring behavioral health concerns. Ann & Robert (2020) found 71% of parents said the pandemic had taken a toll on their child’s mental health, and 69% said the pandemic was the worst thing to happen to their child. For Muslim community particularly, Muslim adolescents, the Covid pandemic isolated them from their friends and family as well as Muslim community centers and Mosques that play a critical role in their socialization and development. Guided post traumatic growth theory, this qualitative study explored the impact of the Covid pandemic on mental health of adolescent children. The primary objectives of the study were: 1) to explore the well-being and mental health of Muslim adolescents during Covid pandemic; 2) to explore how Muslim adolescents adapted their Islamic practice during Covid; and 3) to ascertain strategies Muslim adolescent utilized in addressing the mental health related challenges.

Methods: Using a case study design his qualitative study conducted 5 focus groups with a purposive sample of 55 adolescents between 14 – 18 years of age. A semi-structured interview guided by pre-determined research questions was utilized guide the focus group conducted via zoom. Atlas.Ti software was utilized to analyze the data. Open coding was conducted to derive the significant themes.

Results: The sample consisted of 30 females and 25 males between 14 – 18 years of age. Majority of the participants (Nf 45) were either 2nd or 3rd generation immigrants from diverse backgrounds including East Africa, South Asia, Middle East and South America while the remaining 10 identified as being from the United States. Thematic analysis revealed key themes related to the objectives of this study: 1) Participants expressed social isolation during the pandemic; 2) About a third of the participants (Nf20) expressed greater anxiety and sorrow in not being able to attend school during their senior year and missing out on “once in a life time events” 3) Participants discussed varying levels of difficulty in being socially disconnected from the mosques; 4) Participants expressed becoming spiritually stronger and relying more heavily on their Islamic practice due grief and loss and uncertainty about their future; 5) Vast majority of the participants relied on their faith to address mental health challenges; 6) About one-fifth of the sample (Nf10) stated coping with mental health issues by relying on recreational marijuana use; 7) In addition, a little over half the sample (Nf23) relied their friends and the internet for mental health advise and consultation while none considered seeing mental health counseling; and 8) While participants expressed facing more than normal family stress, many participants expressed becoming more connected to family during the pandemic.