Arab Youth in Canada: Acculturation,Enculturation, Social Support,and Life Satisfaction

Results from 98 Arab youth in Canada showed that having a positive Arab culture orientation was related to greater family life satisfaction with family social support as a mediator. A positive European Canadian orientation was related to greater school life satisfaction, but this relation was not mediated by friend social support. Implications for the processes of enculturation and acculturation are discussed. Los resultados obtenidos de 98 jóvenes Árabes en Canadá mostraron que tener una orientación cultural Árabe positiva estaba relacionado con una mayor satisfacción sobre la vida en familia, con el apoyo social familiar como mediador. Tener una orientación Eurocanadiense positiva estaba relacionado con una mayor satisfacción en la vida escolar, pero esta relación no estaba mediada por el apoyo social de los amigos. Se discuten las implicaciones para los procesos de inculturación y aculturación.     

Revisiting “Freely Given Informed Consent” in Relation to the Developing World: Role of an Ombudsman

Background: Establishment of Sri Lankan Twin Registry demanded development of ethical guidelines, as an effective ethical framework was not available in Sri Lanka.

Design: Objectives were to find out whether the ombudsman concept exists in current informed consent practices and to investigate opinion about ombudsmen. We searched Pub Med, conducted a postal survey, and monitored Internet discussion.

Results: The responses were categorized into current practices and existing models in informed consent process, reservations expressed about current practices, arguments supporting the concept, concerns and issues, alternatives, and how to implement the proposal. The concept of a third person is not entirely novel. How to find a truly independent person, the financial implication, confidentiality, obligations, and liabilities of ombudsmen, also emerged.

Conclusions: The concept of an ombudsman is conceptually and ethically sound and acceptable but the challenges posed by this very same solution to creating a better process of informed consent will have to be faced.     

Promoting Healthy Partnerships

ABSTRACT

This article offers practical suggestions for partnering with theological schools and libraries in developing countries. Drawing upon his own experiences, and those of others, the author, a theological librarian and consultant, guides readers through the perilous enterprises of international partnerships and foreign aid projects.     

Changing physical appearance preferences in the United Arab Emirates

Rapid economic growth in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has impacted traditional ways of life rooted in Bedouin traditions and Islamic values. Research undertaken within the UAE suggests that a thin body-image ideal is widespread, as are abnormal eating attitudes and extreme dietary behaviours. However, this regional research has been exclusively cross-sectional, precluding conclusions about the temporal dynamics or nascence of these phenomena. This study explores changes in physical appearance preferences in the UAE over the past two decades. Interviews were undertaken with five khatabaat (marriage brokers), who were asked to report the attributes typically requested by those seeking wives, both now, and in the past. Thematic analysis of these data highlighted differences between the attributes currently deemed desirable, and those deemed desirable in the recent past. These findings are discussed in the context of the nation's rapid socio-economic change, and their implications for body-image and eating-related problems.     

Globalization Shuffles Cards of the World Pack: In Which Direction is the Global Economic-Political Balance Shifting?

The article offers forecasts of the geopolitical and geo-economic development of the world in the forthcoming decades. One of the main accusations directed toward globalization is that it deepens the gap between the developed and developing countries dooming them to eternal backwardness. The article demonstrates that the actual situation is very different. It is shown that this is due to the globalization that the developing countries are generally growing much faster than the developed states, the World System core starts weakening and its periphery begins to strengthen. At the same time there is a continuing divergence between the main bulk of developing countries and the group of the poorest developing states. The article also explains why the globalization was bound to lead to the explosive rise of many developing countries and the relative weakening of the developed economies. In the forthcoming decades this trend is likely to continue (although, of course, not without certain interruptions). It is also demonstrated that this convergence constitutes a necessary condition for the next technological breakthrough. This has important implications for the hegemony debates. A rather popular theory of hegemony cycles implies that the eclipse of the global hegemony of the United States should be followed by the emergence of a new global hegemon. This generates the dichotomy of the two main current points of view—either the United States will continue the global leadership in the forthcoming decades, or it will be replaced by China in this capacity. We do not find the study of the future within this dichotomy fruitful. We believe that in a direct connection with the development of globalization processes the hegemony cycle pattern is likely to come to its end, which will lead to the World System reconfiguration and the emergence of its new structure that will allow the World System to continue its further development without a hegemon.     

Arab Americans With Disabilities and Their Families: A Culturally Appropriate Approach for Counselors

The authors present a brief introduction to Americans of Arab descent and a brief overview of Arab culture. Then, culturally appropriate counseling considerations related to family, attitudes toward disability, religion, communication, acculturation, help‐seeking behaviors, and stereotypes are highlighted. In the last section, the authors provide conclusions and recommendations for culturally appropriate considerations in working with Arab Americans with disabilities and their families. Los autores presentan una breve introducción sobre los americanos de origen árabe y un breve resumen de la cultura árabe. Después, se destacan consideraciones para la consejería culturalmente apropiada relacionadas con la familia, actitudes sobre discapacidad, religión, comunicación, aculturación, comportamientos de búsqueda de ayuda, y estereotipos. En la última sección, los autores proporcionan conclusiones y recomendaciones para consideraciones culturalmente apropiadas a la hora de trabajar con americanos de origen árabe con discapacidades y sus familias.     

Ethical Considerations for Psychologists Providing Treatment to Arab Americans

Given the recent increase in hate crimes against Arab Americans, there are growing concerns over the mental health needs of Arab Americans and a pressing need for psychologists’ competence in treating this group. Although there are several clinical guidelines for other health care professions, there remains a paucity of information on the ethical issues that may arise for psychologists treating this Arab Americans. This article briefly provides background information on Arab Americans, highlights elements of Arab culture that might influence psychological treatment, discusses ethical issues that might arise when psychologists provide services to Arab Americans, and provides recommendations to address these issues.     

The Visibility and Invisibility of Arab Americans and Implications for Psychological Treatment: A Comment on Cho

The following is a commentary on “Ethical Considerations for Psychologists Providing Treatment for Arab Americans” (Cho, this issue). Cho (this issue) brings to light important issues on providing ethical treatment with the Arab American community. However, there is currently no formal mechanism to identify the number of Americans of Arab descent, thus impacting the ability of researchers to study psychological treatment with Arab Americans. In addition, many Arab Americans are refugees with exposure to trauma, highlighting the need for understanding the role of culture in trauma when working with this community. Implications of these issues pertinent to the Arab American community and the need for psychologists to act in advocacy roles are discussed.     

Race,religion and identity: Arab Christians in the United States

In social terms Arab American Christians lie both inside and outside the category of ‘white’ by race. Seemingly ‘white’ via their religious affiliation with the majority and non-white through their Arab and Middle Eastern backgrounds, at times they have access to privilege and power, and at other times face discrimination as non-white and foreign. In this study, there was a connection between those who identified as white, age, and residence in the wealthy suburbs of Virginia and Maryland. The younger generation of professionals who live in the city of Washington DC, as well as activists and academics, tended to be more ambiguous about their own perceived whiteness. Women and men faced differing challenges from prevailing stereotypes of Arabs and gendered expectations of race. The term ‘ancient Christian’ was used to denote a non-Muslim identity and claim an original Christianity located in the Middle East.