Discrimination, Social Support, and the Well-Being of Iranian Immigrants: Insights from Minority Stress Theory

Guided by Minority Stress Theory (MST), this study explored the well-being of Iranian immigrants in the U.S., investigating the potential buffering role of social support in coping with discrimination in both workplace and everyday situations. The research sought to understand the unique challenges faced by this demographic, especially in the context of recent political events and the broader U.S.-Iran relationship in a sample of 139 Iranian immigrants currently residing in the U.S. (62% Female, M age = 35.54, range age = 21–85). We investigated whether subjective well-being in Iranian immigrants in the US was associated with their demographic characteristics (e.g., age, relationship status, health) and the degree of discrimination they faced at work and in everyday life. We also examined whether social support would buffer the effect of discrimination on subjective well-being for this group. Consistent with MST, both everyday and workplace discrimination were linked to lower well-being, while older age, being in a relationship, and better health and were associated with higher well-being. These findings refine MST by showing that, within collectivist immigrant communities such as Iranians, social support may promote well-being broadly but may not fully mitigate the stress associated with systemic or institutionalized discrimination. The results highlight the need for culturally informed approaches that address both individual and structural dimensions of immigrant well-being.