Exploring Islamophobia and Its Impact on Identity Formation and Mental Health Among Canadian Muslim Youth

Background and Purpose: The rise of Islamophobia in Canada, fueled by global conflicts and tensions involving Muslim communities, has added a layer of complexity to the identity formation process for Canadian Muslim youth (CMY). While reconciling their religious, cultural, and national identities, young Muslim individuals must also navigate their sense of belonging all within a society that can be hostile and sometimes threatening. This identity confusion can lead to issues with mental health and contribute to negative youth development, making it more imperative to address Islamophobia within the Canadian context. This study seeks to further explore the impact of Islamophobia on the identity formation and mental health of CMY, shedding light on their experiences in a challenging social landscape. Moreover, the study addresses the pressing role of social workers in cultivating positive youth development of CMY.

Methods: The insights of this study are derived from three FGDs conducted with youth from three Canadian cities (Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto). The snowball sampling technique was adopted to recruit the participants. A total of 21 youth participants, including 7 females and 14 males, joined three focus group discussions (FGDs). To ensure diversity in our sample, participants represented various ethnic backgrounds, including Afghanistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Libya, Pakistan, and Palestine. Finally, thematic analyses of FGDs were completed and themes were derived and presented in the findings.

Results: The analysis of the study identified five major themes: a) Early experiences with discrimination and anti-Muslim racism, b) Tensions between national and ethnic identities, c) Gender and intersectional experiences in Canada and abroad, d) “Muslim first”: Spiritual connections and religious identities, e) Leading roles of Muslim youth in community transformation. This research contributes to the literature on understanding Islamophobia and its effects on the well-being of Canadian Muslim youth. Additionally, the research provides practice strategies for social workers and youth practitioners, aiming to foster positive youth development. Furthermore, the study will contribute to enhancing public discourse on Islam and Muslims and inform policymaking and practice models to address the pressing issue of Islamophobia and its impact on the well-being of Muslim youth.

Conclusion and Implications: Islamophobia, along with tensions between participants’ ethnic and Canadian nationalities, was found to complicate CMY identity development, which in turn had negative effects on their mental health. Increased religious and spiritual connections were found to have positive mental health effects and CMY expressed the importance of combatting Islamophobia by empowering youth through community leadership. This research is crucial in informing policymaking in Canada and providing a better understanding of the Muslim communities for social workers to rely on in their practice.