Psychological Effects and Coping Strategies among Palestinian Adolescents Exposed to War on Gaza
Date
2010-01-09
Authors
Omar Hamdan EL-Buhaisi
عمر حمدان ذيب البحيصي
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Al-Quds University
Abstract
This study aims to examine the psychological effects of Gaza War on Palestinian
adolescents living in Gaza Strip and their coping strategies. The researcher defined
Gaza War, as all Acts of violence committed by Israel against Palestinian people in
Gaza Strip. A stratified cluster random sample survey of 358 adolescents; 158
(44.1%) males and 200 (55.9%) females aged 15-18 years were assessed. The
researcher used descriptive analytical design to represent the entire sample of
population. However, the researcher used some of modified scales which;
Sociodemographic status questionnaire, War on Gaza Traumatic Events Checklist,
Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS), Dépression Self- Rating Scale (DSRS),
UCLA PTSD Index for DSM-IV: Adolescent Version, and A-Cope Adolescent -
Coping Orientation for Problem experiences. The major findings were: The mean
exposure to traumatic events was (13.34) events, while the highest traumatic event
(90.8%) of study sample watching mutilated bodies on TV, 86.6% of study sample
didn t feel save at home, while 90.8% were unable to protect themselves, 81.8% of
study sample were unable to protect their families during the war, and 79.6% don t
think that others were able to protect them., and showed that there were significant
differences in traumatic events according to sex in favor to males, and there were
significant difference in traumatic events according to type of residence in favor to
village. The results showed that the total weight mean for Anxiety (37.0%), and the
highest score for obsessive compulsive subscale (49.4%), then (45.8%) for
Generalized Anxiety subscale, social phobia subscale (38.8%), physical injury fears
subscale (36.5%), and then separation Anxiety subscale (34.2%), and the least
score for panic/Agoraphobia subscale (20.0%), and there were significant
differences in Anxiety and its subscales according to sex in favor to females, this
means that girls suffer from Anxiety and its subscales more than boys. The results
showed that 76.3% of study sample were suffer from depression manifestations
(cutoff point >=17) while 23.7% of study sample were not depress (cutoff point
<17), and showed that there were significant differences in depression according to
sex actual probability in favor to boys, this means that males suffer from depression
more than girls. The results showed that 25 of study sample have no PTSD (6.7%),
74 of study sample have one symptoms (20.5%), 125 of study sample have partial
PTSD (35.1%), while 134 of study sample have full PTSD (37.6%) according to
DSM-VI, and there were significant differences in PTSD according to sex in favor
to females, this means that girls suffer from PTSD more than boys, and there were
significant differences in PTSD subscales (Re-experiencing, Increase arousal) in
favor to females, while there were no significant differences in PTSD subscale
(avoidance) according to sex. The results showed that the most frequent coping
items among study sample, the item try to improve yourself (get body in shape, get
better grades, etc.) 58.9%, and the total Weight mean of ACOPE scale was
(56.5%), while, the highest subscale of coping was "developing social support"
(66.8%) among study sample, and showed that there were no significant
differences in coping strategies among males and females, that s means both boys
and girls use coping strategies equally. While there were significant differences in
coping strategies subscales (developing social support, solving family problems,
iv
being humorous) in favor to females, that s means girls use these strategies more
than boys, as well as the results showed that there were significant differences in
coping strategies subscales (avoiding problems, investing in close friend, seeking
professionals support) in favor to male, that s means boys use these strategies more
than girls. And showed that there were relative significant effect for independent
variable (traumatic events) on Anxiety, which means that independent variables
(hearing the sonic sounds of the jetfighters, hearing shelling of the area by artillery,
hearing of arrest of someone or a friend, witnessing assassination of people by
rockets, Forced to leave your home during the war) have significant effect on
Anxiety, this model shows that 37% of Anxiety scores among adolescents due to
the previous traumatic events items, while 63% of Anxiety scores due to others
factors, and there were relative significant effect for independent variable
(traumatic events) on depression, which means that independent variables (Hearing
of arrest of someone or a friend, Witnessing killing of a friend, Witnessing
assassination of people by rockets, Forced to leave your home during the war) have
significant effect on depression, this model shows that 27% of depression scores
among adolescents due to the previous traumatic events items, while 73% of
depression scores due to others factors, while there were relative significant effect
for independent variable (traumatic events) on PTSD, which means that
independent variables (hearing the sonic sounds of the jetfighters, hearing of arrest
of someone or a friend, witnessing the signs of shelling on the ground, forced to
leave your home during the war) have significant effect on PTSD, this model
shows that 37% of PTSD scores among adolescents due to the previous traumatic
events items, while 73% of PTSD scores due to others factors. The results showed
that there were no significant correlation between Anxiety and total coping
strategies, while there were positive significant correlation between Anxiety and
coping strategies subscales; (ventilating feelings, developing social support,
engaging in demanding activities), this mean increase of Anxiety among
adolescents will lead to increase of using of these coping strategies. Also the result
shown that there were negative significant correlation between Anxiety and coping
strategies subscale; (seeking spiritual support), and there were positive significant
correlation between depression and total coping strategies, this mean increase of
depression among adolescents will lead to increase of using of coping strategies and
vice versa, while there were no significant correlation between PTSD and total
coping strategies, and there were positive significant correlation between PTSD and
coping strategies subscale; (ventilating feelings, developing social support, and
avoiding problems), this mean increase of PTSD among adolescents will lead to
increase of using of these coping strategies and vice versa, and there were negative
significant correlation between PTSD and (solving family problems).