scholarly journals The Relationship between Trauma due to Winter Storm Alexa, PTSD, Mental Health of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Abdelaziz M. Thabet ◽  
Sanaa S. Thabet

<p><em>Aim:</em><em> This study investigated the relationship between trauma due to winter storm Alexa, PTSD and other mental health problems of Palestinian in Gaza Strip.</em><em> </em><em>Method:</em><em> The sample consisted of 105 males (50%) and 105 females (50%) selected from three of the most affected areas by flooding in 2014 due to Alexa storm in Gaza Strip. Participants age range was 20-65 years, with a mean age 40.88 (SD = 9.8)</em><em>,</em><em> with a mean age of years. Mental health status was assessed by a sociodemographic scale, the Trauma Due to Flood Scale, PTSD scale, and General Health Questionnaire (28 items). Results: Mean traumatic events experienced were 7.8. There were no statistically significant differences between males and females in reporting traumatic events. Mean post-traumatic stress disorder was 18.65, re-experiences symptoms was 6.4, avoidance symptoms was 5.7 and mean arousal symptoms was 5.73. </em></p><p><em>The study showed that 34.8% reported full criteria of PTSD. There were no statistically significant differences in PTSD total scores and subscales and sex of participants. Mean GHQ-28 was 12.12, somatization mean was 3.21, anxiety was 3.31, social dysfunction was 3.34, and depression was 2.27, 91% of the participants were rated as psychiatric morbidity cases and need further investigation. Males significantly scored more in social dysfunction than females. Traumatic events were significantly correlated with PTSD and general mental health and all subscales.</em><em> </em><em>Conclusion and implications</em><em>: </em><em>This study has important implications for need of establishing and implementing psychosocial intervention programs for in the Gaza Strip not only for those victims of political violence but also for people exposed to other types of traumatic events such as natural disasters. </em></p>

2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lamia Thabet ◽  
Abdel Aziz Mousa Thabet

Lamia Thabet, Abdel Aziz Mousa Thabet, Sajida Abdul Hussein and Panos Vostanis report on a study that aimed to establish the level of emotional problems among 115 children aged 9–16 years (average 13.4), who were living in two orphanages in the Gaza Strip. The children's age of admission to the orphanage (average 8.8 years) was higher than in traditional orphanages in other countries. This was related to the reasons for admission, following their father's death, and the inability of their remaining family to care for them. However, children retained substantial contact with their family of origin by visiting during school holidays (88.6%) or being visited at the unit (97.4%). Using previous standardised mental health measures completed by the children and their main carers, children demonstrated high rates of anxiety, depressive and post-traumatic stress reactions. These mental health problems were strongly inter-related but were not found to be associated with social/care variables. Potential implications of the findings for orphanages and other residential units in developing countries are discussed. These should take into consideration the socio-cultural characteristics of each country and limited local resources; involve non-governmental organisations and local communities; tackle wider stigmatising attitudes; and instill a child-centred philosophy within these settings.


2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-412
Author(s):  
A. A. Mousa Thabet ◽  
P. Vostanis

The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of behavioural and emotional problems among Palestinian children. The study enrolled 959 children from the Gaza Strip, 453 boys and 506 girls. Ages ranged from 6 to 12 years, with a mean of 8.81 years. Teachers completed the Rutter scale B2. The results showed that the case incidence in boys was 247 [54.5%], while in girls it was 215 [46.5%]. The differences between boys and girls were statistically significant, with boys rated by teachers with a significantly higher caseness. The teachers rated 48% of the children as at or above the cut-off level of 9. Factor analysis of the scale revealed the following three factors: antisocial behaviour-aggression, anxiety-fearfulness, and school phobia.


2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Thabet ◽  
S. Matar ◽  
A. Carpintero ◽  
J. Bankart ◽  
P. Vostanis

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 413-421
Author(s):  
A. A. Thabet ◽  
Y. Abed ◽  
P. Vostanis

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 286 Palestinian children 9-18 years of age and their mothers in the Gaza Strip. Traumatic events recollected by children living in areas of conflict, the prevalence of post-traumatic stress reactions and the relationship between children’s and mothers’ mental health were investigated. The Gaza Traumatic Events Checklist, Impact of Event Scale [IES] and General Health Questionnaire [GHQ] were used to measure outcome. Children experienced on average four traumatic events; one-third reported significant post-traumatic stress reactions. IES scores were higher among girls and mothers’ GHQ scores significantly predicted children’s IES scores.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-85
Author(s):  
Sandy Krammer ◽  
Hedwig Eisenbarth ◽  
David Hügli ◽  
Michael Liebrenz ◽  
Philipp Kuwert

2021 ◽  
pp. 009164712199240
Author(s):  
Noah S. Love ◽  
Cassidy A. Merlo ◽  
M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall ◽  
Peter C. Hill

The present study examined attachment to God and quest as potential moderators of the relationship between religious doubt and mental health. A sample of Christian participants ( N = 235) completed a survey which included measures of attachment to God, quest, religious doubt, and mental health. As hypothesized, attachment to God and quest significantly moderated an individual’s experience of religious doubt. Low avoidant attachment to God (i.e., a more secure attachment) was associated with a more negative relationship between cognitive religious doubt and positive mental health than high avoidant attachment. In contrast, low avoidant attachment to God also ameliorated the positive relationship between affective religious doubt and mental health problems. Low anxious attachment was associated with a stronger negative relationship between both measures of religious doubt (i.e., cognitive and affective) and positive mental health. In addition, high soft quest weakened all four of the relationships between measures of religious doubt and mental health. High hard quest ameliorated the positive relationship between both measures of religious doubt and mental health problems. These results indicate that an individual’s attachment to God and the way an individual is oriented toward religion each play a role in the mental health outcomes associated with religious doubt.


Author(s):  
Rachel A. Fusco ◽  
Yan Yuan ◽  
Hyunji Lee ◽  
Christina E. Newhill

Low-income young adults are more likely to have exposure to trauma, which increases risk for mental health problems. Although adequate sleep promotes good health, people with histories of trauma are more likely to have sleep problems. The current study explored whether poor sleep mediated the relationship between trauma exposure and mental health. A sample of 143 low-income 18–24-year-old young adults completed depression, anxiety, and trauma exposure measures and wore sleep monitors for four nights. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine both direct and indirect effects of variables. Results showed that higher trauma exposure was associated with depression and anxiety. Mean sleep hours per night was fewer than six, far below recommended guidelines for optimal health and functioning. Fewer sleep hours partially mediated the relationship between both trauma exposure and depression and anxiety, and the direct effect from trauma remained significant after adjusting for the partial mediation from sleep.


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