Adolescents' Reactions to the Evacuation of the Sinai Settlements: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

This study investigated psychological reactions of adolescents to a severe stress situation--the evacuation of the Sinai settlements. The research focused on emotional reactions of anxiety and anger to this stress situation. Two central problems were investigated: The intensity of the emotional responses of anxiety and anger of the adolescents to the stress situation, before and after the evacuation, and the impact of three intervening variables on these emotional reactions--cognitive perception of the political situation, family functioning, and personality characteristics. Data for this study were collected in a regional high school in Israel from 418 pupils in 9th through 12th grades. Seventy-eight of the pupils lived in the Yamit area. Measurements were obtained at three points in time: 6 weeks and 1 week before the evacuation and 2 months after it. The results supported the predicted trend that adolescents in the Yamit group before the evacuation would score higher on state anxiety and state anger than would those in the comparison group. Two months after the evacuation there was a significant drop in those scores. The trait measures remained stable in both groups and no significant differences were found between the two groups on these scores. Concerning the impact of the three intervening variables on the intensity of the state emotional responses, the results did not support any of the hypotheses.

Religiosity and Posttraumatic Stress Following Forced Relocation

“…Clinical studies found that, in general, relocation led to disruption of family organization (Sluzki, 1992), impaired social networks, and employment difficulties (Roizblatt & Pilowsky, 1996) and had a negative effect on mental health (Fullilove, 1996). Similar adverse effects were found among Israeli settlers evicted from settlements in the Sinai Peninsula in 1982 as part of the peace agreement with Egypt (Kliot, 1987;Sagy & Antonovsky, 1986;Wambolt, Steinglass, & De-Nour, 1991).…”

Health dynamics in camps and on campuses: stressors and coping strategies for wellbeing among labourers and students in Cameroon

“…This was in part because of the social groups to which they belonged, which are instrumental in aiding respondents to cope with stressors. Studies have shown that stable social support is linked to a stable community and also to promoting a strong SOC (Sagy & Antonovsky, 1986; Sagy & Braun-Lewensohn, 2009). This richness of our respondents’ social networks (family, youth groups, church groups and so forth) was visible in this study and effective in enhancing coping.…”

Israeli and Palestinian Families in the Peace Process: Sources of Stress and Response Patterns

“…Research on the effect of peace on the family is almost nonexistent, despite the fact that it is a life situation affecting the family as a whole. A noted exception are studies on personal and couple adjustment to geographical relocation following the Israeli‐Egyptian peace accord (Kliot, 1987; Sagy & Antonovsky, 1986; Steinglass & Kaplan De‐Nour, 1988; Steinglass, Kaplan De‐Nour, & Shye, 1985; Steinglass, Weisstaub, & Kaplan De‐Nour, 1988; Wamboldt, Steinglass & Kaplan De‐Nour, 1991). While these studies focused on a specific stressful event (relocation) that resulted from the peace accord, the present study has attempted to explore stresses and strains experienced by families during the peace process itself.…”