Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Ethiopian-Israeli Young Adults: Coping with Stress, Exclusion, and Racism

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are increasingly used to promote mental health and resilience, yet their applicability within racially marginalized communities remains underexplored. Ethiopian-Israeli young adults face chronic stressors related to socioeconomic disadvantage, racialized discrimination, and complex identity negotiations, creating a distinctive context in which mindfulness practices may function differently. The present qualitative study examines how Ethiopian-Israeli young adults experienced participation in a standard Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program and identifies cultural and structural factors shaping its relevance, acceptability, and impact. Twenty-five Ethiopian-Israeli young adults completed an eight-week MBSR course and took part in semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings revealed four central themes: (1) layered stress arising from identity tensions, community responsibility, and experiences of racism; (2) transformative processes of mindfulness practice, including enhanced emotion regulation, embodied awareness, and coping with discrimination; (3) cultural and practical barriers to engagement, such as norms discouraging emotional vulnerability, emphasis on productivity, and competing life demands; and (4) conditions for safety and belonging, highlighting the importance of group composition, facilitator qualities, delivery format, and the implicit presence of racism as an unspoken concern. Participants described mindfulness as a meaningful resource for coping with stress and discrimination, yet emphasized that its effectiveness depends on cultural resonance, practical framing, and relational safety. The findings underscore that mindfulness should not be assumed culturally neutral and point to the need for contextually grounded adaptations. This study contributes to growing efforts to develop culturally responsive MBIs that address minority stress and support well-being within marginalized communities.