Navigating Cultural and Psychological Barriers: Acculturative Stress, Sexual Harassment, and Suicidal Ideation Among Arab Female Students

Purpose Across the world, female students from minority groups face unique stressors, including acculturation stress and sexual harassment. These factors potentially increase their mental health risks. This study aims to investigate the direct and indirect effects of these risk factors, depressive and suicidal ideation among Arab female students in Israel. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1425 Arab female students aged 17–54 enrolled in academic institutions across Israel. Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing suicidal ideation, depression, acculturative stress, and experiences of sexual harassment both in childhood and during university. Results Suicidal ideation was reported by 20.5% of participants. Higher levels of depression, acculturative stress, and experiences of childhood sexual harassment were significant predictors of suicidal ideation. Path analysis revealed that depression mediated the relationship between acculturative stress and suicidal ideation, as well as the indirect effects of childhood sexual harassment. Additionally, childhood sexual harassment demonstrated a direct impact on suicidal ideation. The study found a cumulative effect of sexual harassment across both childhood and university, which increased the risk of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Conclusion This study highlights the complex interaction between sexual harassment, acculturation, and depression on the impact of suicidal ideation among Arab female students. Findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive campus mental health programs.