Intergenerational Cultural‐Religious Identity Tensions in Australian Muslim Families: A Qualitative Study From Muslim Mental Health Practitioners' Perspectives

ABSTRACT In Western countries, Muslim families navigate intergenerational tensions around culture, religion and family belonging. Although these dynamics can carry significant mental‐health implications, little research has examined how such tensions are understood and addressed by Muslim mental health practitioners themselves. This study investigates Muslim mental health practitioners' perspectives on the nature of these tensions, their impacts and pathways to care. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 32 Muslim mental health practitioners (20 women, 12 men; aged 25–58 years, M = 35.8) across professions (11 psychologists, 2 provisional psychologists, 8 counsellors, 8 social workers, 2 mental health nurses, 1 occupational therapist) and diverse cultural backgrounds (e.g., Turkish, Lebanese, Afghan, Indian, Pakistani). Interviews (37.4 h total) were held via secure video conferencing and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four multifaceted themes were developed which reflected participants experiences working with Muslim families in Western multicultural settings. (1) Cultural and religious identity conflict; (2) Parent–child miscommunication and parenting style; (3) Mental health impacts of intergenerational tension; and (4) Protective and restorative pathways to healing. Findings suggest services may enhance cultural safety and clinical effectiveness by integrating faith‐congruent interventions, facilitating intergenerational dialogue and partnering with community institutions. Training that deepens competence in collectivist family processes that incorporates decolonising, strengths‐based frameworks may further support Muslim clients' wellbeing in Western multicultural settings.