Living in the crossfire: Effects of exposure to political violence on Palestinian and Israeli mothers and children (original) (raw)
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Psychological Symptomatology Among Palestinian Adolescents Living with Political Violence
Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 2007
Background: The study examined the impact of the level of exposure to political violence on the psychological symptomatology of Palestinian adolescents in the West Bank, an area affected by the ongoing political violence between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Method: A random sample of 1775 participants (54.1% males, 45.9% females) between the ages of 12-18 was administered a self-report questionnaire consisting of three measures: demographic variables, domestic violence, political violence events and psychological symptomatology (BSI). Results: Results indicated that the average psychological symptomatology was higher among those who were exposed to political violence events compared to those who were not; the level of hostility was significantly higher in those who were exposed to each of the political violence events. However, the factors that contributed most to psychological symptomatology were parental violence toward children and violence among siblings.
The current study investigated the association between mothers' perceived need for psychosocial services due to exposure to political violence, and theirs and their children's psychological distress. A representative sample of 904 Israeli mothers of young children aged 2-6 were asked to fill out a questionnaire about exposure to war and other types of trauma, psychological distress, social support, and perceived need for help. The results showed that mothers who reported a need for psychosocial services due to exposure to political violence had higher levels of exposure to political violence, depressive symptoms and more emotional problems in their young children than mothers who reported no need for help. Those who reported a need for psychosocial services also had less social support even when all other variables are controlled. Furthermore, Arab mothers and mothers with low family income perceived a greater need for psychosocial services. The implications of this study are relevant for policies of outreach to vulnerable groups in situations of ongoing political violence.
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry , 2007
A 2005 survey of 2,328 youth (ages 12 to 18) in the West Bank, Palestine, revealed an association between exposure to politically violent events, domestic violence, and school violence and with psychological symptomatology. Results also found associations between family violence, family economic status, and psychological symptomatology. Respondents reported low levels of family functioning. Data revealed some geographic variability in experiences of politically violent events, domestic violence, school violence, and psychological symptomatology. Implications for practice are discussed.
Child Abuse & Neglect, 2003
Objectives: First, to examine the rates of Palestinian adolescents' exposure to (i.e., witnessing and experiencing) different patterns of psychological aggression and physical violence in their families of origin; and second, to examine the correlation between this exposure and sociodemographic characteristics, parents' psychological adjustment problems, and family exposure to political stressors. Method: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among a sample of 1,185 Palestinian secondary school students. Results: The study reveals very alarming rates of witnessing interparental and parent-to-sibling aggression and violence, and high rates of experiencing aggression and violence by parents and siblings during childhood and adolescence. In addition, these rates were found to be intercorrelated, and correlated significantly with several sociodemographic characteristics such as parents' levels of education, place of residence, family size, religious affiliation, family income, and housing conditions, as well as with parents' psychological adjustment problems and with family exposure to political stressors. Conclusions: The results of the study reveal strong evidence that emphasizes the importance of studying violence in the family from an integrative, comprehensive, and ecological perspective that incorporates ଝ This study was partially supported by a grant from Novah Mitchell Fund. This paper is based on a study jointly carried out by the two authors. A portion of this project served as the basis for Mrs. Rula Abdo-Kaloti's M.S.W. thesis.
This study examined cross-cultural differences in the moderating function of authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive parenting styles for Jewish and Arab Israeli children exposed to political violence. Respondents were parents and children aged 10-11 from 94 families (42 Arab, 52 Jewish). Parents completed the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire and a demographic questionnaire, and children completed the Brief Symptom Inventory, Political Life Events Scale, and Negative Life Events Scale. Political violence exposure and parenting style influenced children's psychological distress. Mothers' and fathers' parenting style moderated effects of political-violence exposure differently for Jewish and Arab children. These findings highlight the need to examine both mothers' and fathers' parenting style and ways in which parenting style effects are culturally dependent.
مجلة الجامعة الإسلامية للبحوث الإنسانية, 2016
The overall aim of this study is to assess the impact of political violence on depression among the Palestinian children in Gaza Strip. Method: The sample consisted of 80 children of 13 to 16 years of age. Measures included the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: Of the sample 18.8 % (N=15) of the children exceed the cutoff score in the depression scale. The differences between the case group and the control group were statistically significant, with the experimental group scored higher a significant acuter degree of depression. We can find that gender, the family's income, mother's education, the place of residence, the age of the child and periods of exposure, were variables had no significant differences with depression. Conclusion: cumulative experience of political violence trauma constitutes a risk factor for continuing depression symptoms which needs therapy and psychological help.
Emotional problems in Palestinian children living in a war zone: a cross-sectional study
The Lancet, 2002
Background Children living in war zones are at high risk of developing post-traumatic stress and other emotional disorders, but little is known about the effect of traumatic events during war. We aimed to assess the nature and severity of emotional problems in Palestinian children whose homes had been bombarded and demolished during the crisis in Palestine, compared with children living in other parts of the Gaza strip.