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Ramona Amely, PhD, is a 2026 graduate of the PhD program in Counselor Education & Supervision, Antioch University, Seattle.
Najla Hrustanovic, PhD, Committee Chair
Stephanie Thorson-Olesen, PhD, Committee Member
Rasha Mohamed, PhD, Committee Member
Keywords
immigrant, well-being, family, culture, first-generation, qualitative
Document Type
Dissertation
Publication Date
2026
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experiences of first-generation adult children of Middle Eastern immigrant parents/caregivers living in the United States. This was a phenomenological study with reflexive thematic analysis. Participants (N=10) were interviewed via Zoom, and transcripts were analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA). The results included four themes: (1) Migration Contact and Cultural Formation, (2) Bicultural Identity Development, (3) Family System Adaptation, and (4) Emotional Socialization and Psychological Impact. This study highlights how first-generation adult children of Middle Eastern immigrants navigate complex, interwoven processes of bicultural identity development, family adaptation, and emotional socialization shaped by migration experiences. Implications for the field include the need for culturally responsive and family-informed counseling approaches that recognize bicultural stress, shifting family roles, and culturally embedded emotional expression. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).
Recommended Citation
Amely, R. (2026). Navigating Family, Culture, and Well-Being: A Qualitative Study of First-Generation Adult Children of Middle Eastern Immigrants in The United States. https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/1253
Included in
Counseling Psychology Commons, Counselor Education Commons, Developmental Psychology Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy Commons
Comments
Ramona Amely, PhD, 2026
ORC iD 0009-0008-1432-4299
Dr. Ramona Amely, LPC, holds a doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from Antioch University and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Palo Alto University. She is a practicing mental health clinician whose scholarship focuses on immigrant family systems, bicultural identity development, and psychological well-being, with particular attention to the lived experiences of first-generation adult children of Middle Eastern immigrant parents in the United States. Dr. Amely is committed to advancing culturally responsive counseling practice, supervision, and counselor education through research, advocacy, and clinical leadership.