Analysis of trauma exposure, symptomatology and functioning in Jewish Israeli and Palestinian adolescents

Abstract

BackgroundThere has been no reported research comparing Jewish Israeli and Palestinian adolescents regarding the effect of ongoing political violence on adolescent psychosocial, family, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and aggression problems.AimsTo compare Israeli and Palestinian responses regarding the relationship between exposure to traumatic events and psychosocial, behavioural, emotional and family problems.MethodA cluster sample of youths aged 14–18 years, including 442 Jewish Israeli adolescents in Ariel, Haifa and Tel-Aviv, and 450 Palestinian adolescents in Gaza cities, villages and refugee camps were surveyed in 2006 using our Traumatic Events Questionnaire (TEV), the Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI), the PTSD Symptom Scale – Interview (PSS–I), the Index of Peer Relations scale (IPR), Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) and the MacMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD).ResultsPalestinian respondents had higher scores in the TEV, BSI, PSS–I and BPAQ questionnaires, and greater problems in functioning as revealed in the IPR and FAD. The social functioning of the adolescents with their peers predicted mental health symptoms and PTSD symptoms. Lower socioeconomic status predicted mental health symptoms, PTSD, pathology of participants' family functioning and the social functioning of the adolescents with their peers. Parents' education positively effected the FAD score and the avoidance item on the PSS–I, and religiosity improved the score on the FAD. Females reported more symptoms on the BSI and PSS–I than males, and males more symptoms on the FAD and IPR than females.ConclusionsBoth respondent groups had significant emotional and behavioural problems. Individual and community treatment, and community and social development, are likely to be useful for both populations, particularly Palestinians.

Exposição de adolescentes à violência em diferentes contextos: relações com a saúde mental

“…Entre os aspectos destacados, pode-se observar que os estudos relatam grande exposição à violência na adolescência, sendo esses adolescentes, na maioria das vezes, vítimas. Essa exposição traz consequências negativas ao longo do desenvolvimento, como o aumento dos sintomas de transtornos mentais, ideação suicida, vivências traumáticas, desajustamento psicossocial, problemas externalizantes e internalizantes, comportamento agressivo, violência física, problemas de autoestima, ansiedade, comportamento sexual de risco, entre outros (Al-Krenawi et al, 2009;Benetti et al, 2010;Betancourt, Agnew-Blais, et al, 2010;Betancourt, Brennan, et al, 2010;Cano et al, 2009;Copeland-Linder et al, 2010;Haber & Toro, 2009;Lambert et al, 2012). Além dos estudos que discutem o impacto negativo da violência, outras pesquisas enfocam aspectos positivos e de enfrentamento frente à violência, investigando variáveis como o bem-estar, esperança e estratégias de coping (Eggerman & Panter-Brick, 2010;Epstein-Ngo et al, 2013;Nguyen et al, 2010;Wigderson & Lynch, 2013), numa perspectiva teórica da Psicologia Positiva (Rutter, 1999;Yunes, 2003).…”

“…Ainda houve pesquisas que tiveram por objetivo investigar exposição a eventos traumáticos, eventos estressores e experiências de guerra (Al-Krenawi, Graham, & Kanat-Maymon, 2009;Betancourt, Agnew-Blais, et al, 2010;Betancourt, Brennan, et al, 2010;Eggerman & Panter-Brick, 2010;Hasanović et al, 2009;Rheingold, Zinzow, Hawkins, Saunders, & Kilpatrick, 2012). Além disso, outro estudo investigou ambas as formas de exposição à violência (direta e indireta; Benetti et al, 2010).…”

“…A maioria dos estudos analisou a saúde mental através da investigação de sintomas de doença mental ou de instrumentos padronizados que incluíam sintomas descritos no DSM-IV, como por exemplo, depressão (Benetti et al, 2010;Jenkins et al, 2009;Nguyen et al, 2010), ansiedade (Benetti et al, 2010;Jenkins et al, 2009;Nguyen et al, 2010), somatização (Jenkins et al, 2009), TEPT (Hasanović et al, 2009;Jenkins et al, 2009;Rheingold et al, 2012;Voisin & Neilands, 2010;Zinzow et al, 2009), uso de álcool e outras drogas (Haber & Toro, 2009;Rheingold et al, 2012) e comportamento sexual de risco (Houck et al, 2010;Voisin & Neilands, 2010). Além disso, grande parte dos estudos utilizou a categorização sintomas de internalização (depressão e ansiedade) e externalização (agressão) como indicadores de saúde mental (Al-Krenawi et al, 2009;Benetti et al, 2010;Betancourt, Agnew-Blais, et al, 2010;Copeland-Linder et al, 2010;Haber & Toro, 2009;Jenkins et al, 2009).…”

Exploring the Efficacy of Anxiety and PTSD Therapeutic Techniques and Protocols in Practice During Ongoing Terrorism: Evidence From a Focus Group Research

“…The unusual conditions in some low intensity conflict areas (such as the ongoing conflict in the south of Israel and the Gaza strip) where traumatic incidents are an ongoing situation (for almost 14 years), lead to high prevalence of PTSD symptomatology (Al-Krenawi, Graham, Kanat-Maymon, 2009;Besser & Neria, 2009;Farhi & Gidron, 2011).…”

“…Though considerable research on PTSD symptomatology and treatment following terrorist attacks or war is based on studies post incidence or postwar (Cloitre, 2009), there are reports on the mental health problems of civilians living under conditions of ongoing threat (Al-Krenawi, Graham, Kanat-Maymon, 2009;Besser & Neria, 2009;Farchi & Gidron, 2010;Freedman & Tuval-Mashiach, 2006;Diamond, Lipsitz, Fajerman & Rozenblat, 2010;Thabet, Tawahina, Sarraj & Vostanis, 2008;Thabet, Ibraheem, Shivram, Winter & Vostanis, 2009;.…”