Abu-Rayya Hisham M., Prof.
Background
Prof. Hisham Abu-Rayya specialises in social-cultural psychology and mental health. His research expertise concerns understanding psychosocial functioning and development within diversity contexts. He completed his B.A. (magna cum laude) degree in psychology and statistics at the Hebrew University, where he also earned (magna cum laude) Post-graduate degrees in psychology and applied statistics. Abu-Rayya’s Ph.D. degree in psychology was completed at the University of Cambridge supported by the Overseas Research Student Award (ORS) from the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom and Gates Cambridge Scholarship, the University of Cambridge. Since then, Abu-Rayya was the recipient of research fellowships for outstanding young researchers, such as the University of Sydney (Australia) Research fellowship and Maof fellowship at the University of Haifa. He also won highly competitive research grants such as the Australian Research Council Project Discovery Grant (2009-2013), Israeli Science Foundation Grant (2016-2020), and the European Commission Marie Curie Fellowship (2019-2020). Abu-Rayya’s primary teaching and research job is held at the University of Haifa, Israel, and he also holds an adjunct Professorship at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Abu-Rayya’s research nests within the following areas:
- Identity, acculturation and mental health.
- Inter-group relations and prejudice reduction.
- Mixed-ethnic/cultural/faith marriages, identity, and adjustment.
- Culture, religion, and mental health.
- Psychological development.
Prof Abu-Rayya’s research involves a wide range of research methodologies including cross sectional and longitudinal research designs, experimental research designs, some qualitative methods, large-scale archive data analyses, critical literature reviews, and meta-analytic methods. His work was presented in over in over 60 research forums and published in over 70 scientific papers, many in leading Journals such as Journal of Adolescent Health, The British Journal of Developmental Psychology, Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Computers in Human Behaviour, Review of General Psychology, Neuroscience & Biobehavioural Review, Group Processes & Intergroup Relations. Abu-Rayya is an active member of local scientific associations (e,g, Young Academy) and international scientific associations (e.g., International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology); a reviewer for highly competitive funds (e.g., Australian Research Council, Israeli Science Foundation, EU Marie Curie); and a serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Intercultural Relations.
Publications
Selected Publications
Abu-Rayya, H.M., Berry, J., Grigoryev, D., & Sam, D. (2023). The Integration Hypothesis: A meta-analysis of the ICSEY Project Data Using New Methods. British Journal of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12656
Abu-Rayya, H. M., Lepshokova, Z., Grigoryev, D., Berry, J., & Alnunu, M (2023). A motivational framework relating individual basic values with acculturation strategies among Arab immigrants and refugees. Frontiers in Psychology. Doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1094193
Abu-Rayya, H.M., & Brown, R. (2023). Living together: An integrated acculturation-contact strategy to promote ethnic harmony between young British Muslims and Anglo-Britons. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 26, 203-222. Doi: 10.1177/13684302211019471
Hocking, D.R., Ardalan, A., Abu-Rayya, H.M., Farhat, H., Andoni, A., Lenroot, R., & Kachnowski, S. (2022). Feasibility of a virtual reality-based exercise intervention and low-cost motion tracking method for estimation of motor proficiency in youth with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 19:1. Doi: 10.1186/s12984-021-00978-1.
Shakoor, S., Samara., & Abu-Rayya, H.M. (2022). Mental Wellbeing challenges of Muslim pupils in UK schools. In AR. Mahmud ET AL. (Ed.), Mental Wellbeing in Schools: What Teachers Need to Know to Support Pupils from Diverse Backgrounds (pp. 132-150). Roudlege.
Alnunu, M., Amin, A., & Abu-Rayya, H.M. (2021). The susceptibility to persuasion strategies among Arab Muslims: The role of culture and acculturation. Frontiers in Psychology, 12: 574115. Doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.574115.
Brenner, R., Somer, E., & Abu-Rayya, H.M. (2022). Personality Traits and maladaptive daydreaming: Fantasy functions and themes in a multi-country sample. Personality and Individual Differences, 184. DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.111194
Coceski M., Hocking, D.R., Reid, S.M., Abu-Rayya, H.M., S.M., Reddihough, D.S., Wrennall, J., & Stargatt, R. (2022). Assessing IQ in adolescents with mild to moderate cerebral palsy using the WISC-V. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 36, 1767-1786.
Coceski M., Hocking, D.R., Abu-Rayya, H.M., Sherwell, S., Reid, S.M., Reddihough, D.S., Wrennall, J., & Stargatt, R. (2021/in press). WISC-V motor-free cognitive profile and predictive factors in adolescents with cerebral palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities. Doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103934
Strier, R., Abu-Rayya, H.M., & Shwartz-Ziv, T. (2021). Social services in ethnically mixed cities: Street-level bureaucracy at the crossroads of ethno-national conflict. Administration and Society, 53, 1203-1231.
Soffer-Dudek, N., Somer, E., Abu-Rayya, H. M., Metin, B., & Schimmenti, A. (2021). Different cultures, similar daydream addiction? An examination of the cross-cultural measurement equivalence of the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 9, 1056-1067.
Abu-Rayya, H.M., Strier, R., & Shwartz-Ziv, T. (2021). The intersection between cultural competence and political conflict: Social workers’ construction of cultural competence in polarized cities. Journal of Social Work, 21, 1278-1298.
Strier, R., Abu-Rayya, H.M., & Shwartz-Ziv, T. (2021). Social services in ethnically mixed cities: Street-level bureaucracy at the crossroads of ethno-national conflict. Administration and Society, 53, 1203-1231
Somer, E., Abu-Rayya, H. M., & Brenner, R. (2021). Childhood trauma and maladaptive daydreaming: Fantasy functions and themes in a multi-country sample. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 22, 288-303. Doi: 10.1080/15299732.2020.1809599
Somer, E., Abu-Rayya, H. M., Schemminte, A., Metin, B., Brenner, R., Fernante, E., Gocman, B., & Marino, A. (2020). Heightened Levels of Maladaptive Daydreaming are Associated with COVID-19 Lockdown, Pre-existing Psychiatric Diagnoses, and Intensified Psychological Dysfunctions: A Multi-country Study. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11:587455. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.587455
Strier, R., Abu-Rayya, H.M., Shwartz-Ziv, T., Taha-Reziq, O., & Sageer-Khaliliya, M. (2020). Public welfare services in mixed cities: Social workers’ perspectives. Welfare & Society, M(2-3), 401-429.
Abu-Rayya, H.M., Somer. E., & Knani, H. (2020). Maldaptive daydreaming exacerbates psychosocial problems experienced by female survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Violence Against Women, 26, 828-837.
Shdema, I., Abu-Rayya, H. M., & Schnell, I. (2019). The interconnections between socio-spatial factors and labour market integration among Arabs in Israel. Papers in Regional Science, 98, 497-514.
Somer, E., Abu-Rayya, H.M. & Nsairy Samaan, Z. (2019). Maladaptive daydreaming among recovering substance use disorder patients: Prevalence and mediation of the relationship between childhood trauma and dissociation. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 17, 206-216.
Abu-Rayya, H.M., Somer, E., & Meari-Amir, S. (2019). The psychometric properties of the Arabic 16-item Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS-16-AR) in a multi-country Arab sample. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 6, 171-183.
Buchanan, Z. E., Abu-Rayya, H. M., Kashima, E., Paxton, S. J., & Sam. D. L. (2018). Perceived discrimination, language proficiencies, and adaptation: Comparisons between refugee and non-refugee immigrants in Australia. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 63, 105-112.
Abu-Rayya, H. M., Abu-Rayya, M. H., White, F.A., & Walker, R. (2018). Comparative associations between acculturation, ego identity achievement, and religiosity and adaptation among Australian adolescent Muslims. Psychological Reports, 121, 324-343
Abu-Rayya, H. M. (2017). Majority members’ endorsement of the acculturation integrationist orientation improves their outgroup attitudes toward ethnic minority members: An electronic-contact experiment. Computers in Human Behaviour, 75, 660-666.
Abu-Rayya, H. M., & Sam, D. (2017). Is integration the best way to acculturate? A re-examination of the biculturalism-adaptation relationship in the “ICSEY dataset” using the bilineal method. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 48, 287-293.
Buchanan, Z. E., Abu-Rayya, H. M., Kashima, E., & Paxton, S. J (2017). The interconnection between acculturation and subjective and social wellbeing among refugee youth in Australia. Journal of Refugee Studies, 30, 511-529.
Malarbi, S., Abu-Rayya, H. M., Muscara, F., & Stargatt, R. (2017). Neuropsychological functioning of children exposed to trauma with and without post-traumatic stress disorder: A meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioural Review, 72, 68-86.
Abu-Rayya, M. H., Walker, R., White, F. A., & Abu-Rayya, H. M. (2016). Cultural identification and religious identification contribute differentially to the adaptation of Australian adolescent Muslims. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 54, 21-33.
Abu-Rayya, H. M., Almoty, S., White, F.A., & Abu-Rayya, M. H. (2016). The interconnection between Islamic religiosity and deviancy among Australian Muslim youth: A partial mediation role of life satisfaction. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 26, 337-347.
White, F.A., Abu-Rayya, H. M., Bliuc, A., & Faulkner, N. (2015). Emotion expression and intergroup bias reduction between Muslims and Christians: Long-term internet contact. Computers in Human Behaviour, 53, 435-442.
White, F.A., Harvey, L., & Abu-Rayya, H. M. (2015). Improving intergroup relations in the Internet age: A critical review. Review of General Psychology, 19, 129-139.
Kashima, E., & Abu-Rayya, H. M. (2014). Longitudinal associations of cultural distance with psychological wellbeing among Australian immigrants from 49 countries. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 45, 587-600.
Abu-Rayya, H.M. (2014). A comparative study of adaptation problems between immigrant adolescents and national adolescents in Australia. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 39, 196-201.
Wilson, L., Morgan, G., Hanigan, I., Johnston, F., Abu-Rayya, H., Broome, R., Gaskin, C., & Jalaludin, B. (2013). The impact of heat on mortality and morbidity in the Greater Metropolitan Sydney Region: A case crossover analysis. Environmental Health, 12, 98.
Chong, S., Lobb, E., Khan, R., Abu-Rayya, H.M., Byun, R., Rose, N., & Jalaludin, B. (2013). Neighbourhood safety and area deprivation modify the associations between parkland and psychological distress in Sydney, Australia. BMC Public Health, 13, 422.
White, F.A., & Abu-Rayya, H. M. (2012). A dual identity-electronic contact (DIEC) experiment promoting short- and long-term intergroup harmony. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48, 597-608.
