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Jabali O, Ayyoub AA, Jabali S. Navigating health challenges: the interplay between occupation-imposed movement restrictions, healthcare access, and community resilience. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1297. [PMID: 38741152 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18817-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transportation plays a significant role in health, community resilience, and access to basic needs such as healthcare, social services, education, and job opportunities. Health and community resilience are, however, impacted by a multitude of complex and unequal factors, such as transportation restrictions exacerbated by the Israeli occupation. The goal of the research was to examine the intricate relationships that exist in Palestine between movement restrictions imposed by occupation, health outcomes, and community resilience. METHOD A self-structured questionnaire, devised based on expert conversations and previous literature, was used in this descriptive, quantitative study to explore health and resilience outcomes. Age, gender, marital status, place of residence, and means of transportation were among the various factors that were utilized to describe the socio-demographics of the study sample (n = 202). The researchers employed stepwise multiple regression and descriptive statistics for the data analysis. RESULTS Study findings indicated that transportation restrictions have significant direct and indirect health consequences. A significant direct effect is observed, signifying a negative correlation between restrictions and health; increased transportation restrictions are consistently correlated with a decline in health. The study emphasized how place of residence affects health outcomes, with higher scores for campers and people living in green line areas. It also underscores that public means of transportation are found to be better for health outcomes than private cars. CONCLUSION This study emphasized that roadblocks, checkpoints, and military incursions make it difficult for Palestinians to receive medical care, which has a detrimental impact on their health and well-being. It also underscores the need for significant reforms in Palestinian health and transportation systems to enhance infrastructure and healthcare access. The Palestinian Authority should invest in public transportation and community resilience programs to address transportation-related health issues, especially in villages, due to frequent settler attacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oqab Jabali
- Language Center, Faculty of Humanities and Education Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
| | - Abed Alkarim Ayyoub
- Psychology and Counseling Department, Faculty of Humanities and Educational Sciences, An Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
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Abuelaish I, Yousufzai S. Resilience under protracted conflict and siege: a new paradigm shift. Med Confl Surviv 2023; 39:369-388. [PMID: 37722406 DOI: 10.1080/13623699.2023.2258325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
This study sought to explore the relationship between resilience as perceived within the Palestinian context, and individual, contextual, and psychosocial factors among adults living in the Gaza Strip. Secondly, this study applies the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale to the Palestinian population within the context of the challenges they are facing while living under extended sieges, in order to examine the generalizability of the resilience scale. Gender-specific bivariate analyses and multivariate linear regression were conducted to examine links between resilience, and diverse psychosocial and contextual factors. Males scored higher in resilience than females. Consistent predictors of higher resilience included, being male, employed, income, not living in a peaceful area, higher life satisfaction, and the Palestinian idea of resilience (Sumud). For the overall sample and males, hardiness was a positive predictor of higher resilience. For the overall sample and females, post-secondary education was a positive predictor of resilience. Psychosocial factors may act synergistically to foster resilience in the face of adversity, low socioeconomic status, and fear of living in a non-peaceful area. Our findings add to a limited body of literature calling for attention to contextual and psychosocial influences on gender differences in measuring and defining the dynamic nature of resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izzeldin Abuelaish
- Global Health/Clinical Public Health Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Susan Yousufzai
- Global Health/Clinical Public Health Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Abuelaish I, Siddiqua A, Yousufzai SJ, Barakat C. Exploring the Influence of Perceived Ingroup and Outgroup Threat on Quality of Life in a Region Impacted by Protracted Conflict. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6599. [PMID: 37623182 PMCID: PMC10454123 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20166599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
While the detrimental effects of protracted political conflict on the wellbeing of Palestinians living in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) are generally recognized, the impact of perceived threat on quality of life (QoL) faced from within their community (ingroup; Palestinians) and from the outgroup (Israelis) is unexplored. This cross-sectional study examined the following: (1) The status of perceptions of QoL on four domains measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL-Bref) instrument, physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment, among Palestinian adults (n = 709) living in the Gaza Strip; (2) The associations between perceived ingroup threat (PIT) and QoL on the four domains; (3) The associations between perceived outgroup threat (POT) and QoL on the four domains. Multivariable linear regression models revealed PIT was negatively associated with QoL in each of the four domains (p < 0.001). POT was positively associated with QoL in three of the four domains: physical health (p < 0.001), psychological health (p < 0.001), and social relationships (p < 0.001). This study contributes valuable insights into how QoL is viewed by a group experiencing collective existential threat. The findings expand the limited recognition of the reciprocal roles of perceived threat from the ingroup and outgroup on the QoL of vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izzeldin Abuelaish
- Global Health Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada;
| | - Ayesha Siddiqua
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada;
| | - Susan J. Yousufzai
- Global Health Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada;
| | - Caroline Barakat
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada;
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War-related quality of life is associated with depressive symptoms and hopelessness among Palestinians: sense of belonging and resilience as mediating variables. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2022; 9:483-490. [PMID: 36618748 PMCID: PMC9806959 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2022.52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current study was designed to test the correlation between quality of life, depressive symptoms, and hopelessness, and whether sense of belonging and resilience mediating the correlation between quality of life, depressive symptoms, and hopelessness in a society characterized by high level of political violence and prolonged trauma. METHODS Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to test the conceptual model, where quality of life was identified as a predictor variable, sense of belonging and resilience as mediating variables, and depressive symptoms and hopelessness as outcome variables. The participants of the study were 437 Palestinian adults: 190 males and 247 females, they were recruited using online methods; emails, Facebook, and Twitter. FINDINGS Results indicated that quality of life negatively correlated with depressive symptoms (r = -0.603; p < 0.01), and hopelessness (r = -0.453; p < 0.01), and positively correlated with resilience (r = 0.534; p < 0.05), and sense of belonging (r = 0.428; p < 0.01). Results of SEM indicated the correlation between quality of life, depressive symptoms, and hopelessness was fully mediated by the sense of belonging and resilience. CONCLUSIONS Our study sheds light on resilience and sense of belonging as protective factors against ongoing traumatic experiences among Palestinians. Future research should be addressed to understand better the features of resilience and sense of belonging that can help maintain psychological functioning in conditions of chronic and ongoing violence, the personal and historical antecedents of such protective factors, and the factors that can directly or indirectly undermine them.
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Veronese G, Pepe A, Diab M, Abu Jamei Y, Kagee A. Social support, resilience, and mental health in a low-intensity warfare context: the effects of siege on university students in Gaza. J Ment Health 2021; 31:383-391. [PMID: 34607522 DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2021.1979486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gaza has long been enduring a quasi-total siege that significantly undermines quality of life in the region. Gazan youth are particularly affected by the ongoing economic recession, a disrupted environment, and health and food insecurity. These critical circumstances are worsened by the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel, which is a cause of death and destruction. AIMS This cross-sectional study investigated the effects of living under protracted siege conditions on mental distress, resilience, and social support among a sample of Palestinian university students living on the Gaza Strip. METHODS Five hundred fifty Palestinian university students were recruited at four universities in Gaza. They completed a battery of instruments, including the Gaza Siege Checklist, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS), Resilience Scale (RS), and Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS). We used structural equation modelling (SEM) to test a conceptual model of social support and resilience as protective factors against the impact on mental distress of living under siege. RESULTS Our findings indicate that living under siege has direct adverse effects, leading to increased mental distress in the form of anxiety, depression, and acute stress. Enduring siege conditions compromises resilience and sources of social support, thereby increasing subjects' risk of developing psychological distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Veronese
- Department of Human Sciences and Education, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Alessandro Pepe
- Department of Human Sciences and Education, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Marwan Diab
- Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa.,Gaza Community Mental Health Program, Gaza, Palestine
| | - Yasser Abu Jamei
- Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa.,Gaza Community Mental Health Program, Gaza, Palestine
| | - Ashraf Kagee
- Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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Veronese G, Diab M, Abu Jamei Y, Saleh S, Kagee A. Risk and protection of suicidal behavior among Palestinian University Students in the Gaza Strip: An exploratory study in a context of military violence. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00207411.2021.1911381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guido Veronese
- Human Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
- Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Marwan Diab
- Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Research, Gaza Community Mental Health Program, Gaza, Palestine
| | - Yasser Abu Jamei
- Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Research, Gaza Community Mental Health Program, Gaza, Palestine
| | - Sally Saleh
- Research, Gaza Community Mental Health Program, Gaza, Palestine
| | - Ashraf Kagee
- Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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Stress of COVID-19 and mental health outcomes
in Palestine: the mediating role of well‑being
and resilience. HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY REPORT 2021. [DOI: 10.5114/hpr.2021.104490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Living under siege: resilience, hopelessness, and psychological distress among Palestinian students in the Gaza Strip. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2021; 8:e40. [PMID: 34703614 PMCID: PMC8518025 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2021.37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Moving from an approach oriented to adaptation and functioning, the current paper explored the network of cumulative associations between the effects of the siege and resilience on mental health. METHODS We sought to explore the impact of the siege on psychological distress (anxiety, depression, and stress) and the moderating effect of resilience and hopelessness in a sample of 550 Palestinian university students. We hypothesized that the siege effect would impact psychological distress so that the more people were affected by the siege, the more mental symptoms of common mental disorders they would report. We also expected that the siege would negatively impact both resilience and participants' hopelessness. RESULTS Findings showed that higher scores on the scale measuring effect of the siege were associated with hopelessness. Furthermore, living under siege compromised participants' resilience. The more the siege affected individuals, the lower resilience were protecting participants mental health and the more hopelessness was exposing them to anxiety, stress, and depression. CONCLUSION Our findings draw attention to how the ongoing violation of human rights influences people's mental health in Gaza. Implications for clinicians and policymakers are discussed.
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Yu Y, Chen Z, Huang S, Chen Z, Zhang K. What determines employment quality among people living with HIV: An empirical study in China. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243069. [PMID: 33259563 PMCID: PMC7707494 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
At the intersection of research areas on health and employment, little attention has been paid on employment quality among people living with HIV (PLWH). The objective of the current study is to identify critical factors and empirically examine their effects on employment quality among PLWH. Based on the social-ecological perspective, we identified negative self-image, workplace discrimination, social support, and policy support as critical factors associated with employment quality among PLWH. Thereafter, a questionnaire survey was conducted to gather information from 339 employed PLWH in China. Hierarchical regression analyses were further performed to analyze the effects of the identified factors on employment quality among PLWH. We obtained three main findings. First, negative self-image and workplace discrimination are detrimental to employment quality among PLWH; whereas social support and policy support are conducive to their employment quality. Second, older, male, and highly educated PLWH can better leverage the undesirable effects of negative self-image and workplace discrimination on employment quality compared with their peers. Third, male, and highly educated PLWH can better utilize social support and policy support to advance employment quality compared with their peers. However, the employment quality effects of the identified factors did not differ by marital status. Our findings provided some useful implications for PLWH, employers, community service providers, and policy makers to promote employment quality among PLWH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunjiang Yu
- School of International Economics and Trade, Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi Chen
- School of Business Administration, Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, Shanghai, China
| | - Shenglan Huang
- School of Business Administration, Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Zhicheng Chen
- School of Business Administration, Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, Shanghai, China
| | - Kailin Zhang
- School of Finance, Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, Shanghai, China
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