MUSLIM WOMEN'S MENTAL HEALTH AND RELIGIOUS IDENTITY: CHALLENGES AND COPING STRATEGIES IN DIASPORA CONTEXTS

Abstract

This study explores the mental health challenges and coping strategies of Muslim women living in diaspora contexts, focusing on the intersection between religious identity and psychosocial well-being. Through qualitative analysis of interviews and secondary data, the research highlights how Islam serves both as a source of resilience and a site of tension in secular societies. Factors such as Islamophobia, cultural alienation, identity conflict, and marginalization affect mental health outcomes, often compounded by stigma surrounding mental illness within Muslim communities. At the same time, religious practices, community networks, and spiritual coping mechanisms are shown to enhance emotional strength and psychological balance. Drawing on both psychological theories and Islamic perspectives, the research provides a nuanced understanding of how Muslim women negotiate their religious identity while confronting mental health challenges in diaspora. It recommends culturally competent mental health services, inclusive community programs, and faith-sensitive therapeutic approaches to address this complex issue.