Navigating Islamophobia: Examining the Role of Religion and Community in the Everyday Lives of Muslim Adolescents in England

This study explores the coping strategies employed by Muslim adolescents in reaction to the challenges they face in schools across England. Rather than making broad generalizations about Muslim students in the UK, the study focuses on understanding how these young people navigate stressful experiences—particularly discrimination and Islamophobia—through their own lived experiences. Muslim minority communities in the UK frequently encounter difficulties related to their distinct identities on daily basis. In this context, religion, spirituality, and a sense of community often play a vital role in helping minority communities, including Muslims, cope with everyday challenges. Drawing on a qualitative research methodology, the study involved semi-structured interviews with 14 British Muslim students aged 15 to 16. The findings reveal three key coping mechanisms: religious consciousness, community belonging, and avoidance. Religious consciousness—expressed through prayer and spiritual engagement—supports psychological resilience. Community belonging provides a sense of solidarity and peer support, while avoidance functions as a practical strategy for managing ongoing experiences of discrimination. This research offers deeper insight into the lived experiences of Muslim youth and has important implications for educational policy and practice.