Dr. Ayat Nashwan

My area of interest focuses on immigrant social issues, specifically the challenges faced by the increasing numbers of Arab immigrants to the United States. I am interested in studying the acculturation process and the acculturative stress that accompanies the adjustment of these immigrants who are increasingly coming to a new culture in significant numbers. My primary areas of research interest include social work practice with Arab American, Muslim, and Middle Eastern immigrant families and communities, across the lifespan.  My secondary area of research interest is acculturative stress among Arab American children and adolescents in United States, and the impact of social support as a buffer for acculturative stress. My dissertation title is “Acculturative Stress and Social Support among Arab Immigrant Adolescents in East Tennessee”.