The psychological effects of perceived threat, national identity and self-esteem on the well-being of Qatari youth during the blockade

Abstract

Background In 2017, the unprecedented blockade of Qatar by neighboring Gulf states caused a plethora of effects on the country at a psychological, socio-political, and identity level. This paper sought to examine the resulting psychological effects of this blockade in Qatar but with a focus on the younger population. Methods Using self-report questionnaire data from Qatari secondary school students (n = 1410), a multiple regression model investigated the predictive effects of youth self-esteem, national identity, and perceived threat on the well-being of students. Results The model predicted 23.9% of the variance in the overall dataset. The results indicated that the model was a significant predictor of well-being, F (3, 1406) = 148.35, p = .000. While self-esteem significantly contributed to the model (B = .473, p = .000), as did perceived threat (B = − .058, p = 0.013); Qatari identity did not display a significant predictive effect (B = .040, p = .089). Conclusions In the context of the conflict, perceived threat and self-esteem play a crucial role in predicting youth wellbeing.

Mental health issues is common, resiliency is rare: Qataris and residents’ experiences with distress, traumatic symptoms, and coping during the blockade

“…Positive emotions were used as coping strategies to guide residents and the country toward resilience [ 30 ]. These coping strategies have also enhanced national identity, pride, and the will to cope with uncertainty [ 86 , 87 ]. The resilience and strength of Qataris can also be attributed to two main factors.…”