The role of peer social support in marginalization and social anxiety among adolescents in Burmese American refugee communities

Purpose This study investigates how acculturation strategies (separation, marginalization, assimilation and integration) relate to social anxiety among adolescents in Burmese American refugee communities. It also examines whether peer support moderates these relationships. This study aims to identify social and cultural factors that contribute to or protect against anxiety in this underserved population, informing targeted, culturally responsive mental health interventions. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 105 adolescents in Burmese American refugee communities (ages 10–19) in a Midwestern US city. Participants completed validated measures of acculturation, social anxiety and peer social support. Multiple moderation regression analyses tested whether peer support moderated the associations between each acculturation strategy and social anxiety, controlling for gender and age. Findings Marginalization was the only acculturation strategy significantly associated with greater social anxiety. Peer support moderated this relationship, weakening the impact of marginalization on anxiety. No significant moderation effects were found for other acculturation strategies. Female participants reported higher levels of social anxiety than males. These findings suggest that peer support can partially buffer the psychological risks associated with cultural disconnection. Social implications These findings suggest that schools and community organizations serving adolescents in Burmese American refugee communities should prioritize inclusive peer-network building and culturally grounded group supports, because peer support can meaningfully buffer the social-anxiety risk associated with marginalization. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first to examine the intersection of acculturation strategies, peer support and social anxiety among adolescents in Burmese American refugee communities, a population that remains underrepresented in mental health research. It provides culturally specific evidence highlighting marginalization as a key psychological risk factor and peer support as a potential protective buffer.