Gender, Acculturation, and Health-Related Quality of Life Among the Arab Ethnic Minority: A Syndemics Approach

Introduction: Gender disparities in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among ethnic minorities remain a critical concern. HRQoL refers to the assessment of an individual’s subjective physical and psychological well-being. This study investigates these disparities within the Arab ethnic minority in Israel, focusing on the interplay between acculturation styles and behavioral syndemic factors. The syndemics approach, which considers the interaction of co-occurring health conditions within specific social and environmental contexts, serves as the theoretical foundation. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed to collect data from 305 participants among the Arab ethnic minority using a validated self-report questionnaire. Key variables measured included acculturation style, syndemic structure based on the cumulative impact of the four health-related behaviors, and HRQoL. Statistical analyses involved a one-way MANCOVA. A hierarchical linear regression was conducted to determine the associations between the variables. Results: The findings indicated significant gender differences, with Arab women exhibiting poorer HRQoL than men, particularly regarding physical fitness, daily activities, and social activity. Marginalized and integrated acculturation styles, higher syndemic severity, and chronic illness were associated with lower HRQoL. The regression model was significant, explaining 16.8% of the variance in HRQoL. Conclusion: Addressing health conditions in isolation may be insufficient without considering the broader social and environmental influences. Implementing culturally tailored intervention programs incorporating acculturation challenges and syndemic interactions is recommended to enhance HRQoL among ethnic minorities. These findings underscore the importance of “upstream” policies to reduce health disparities and promote equity.