Well-being and its determinants from the perspective of the Palestinian youth in the occupied Palestinian territory

Abstract

Background Young people in the occupied Palestinian territory face challenges-including economic, political, and social challenges-that hinder their wellbeing. It is therefore pertinent to understand the needs of the youth and the factors that determine their well-being. This study explores the understanding and definition of well-being from the perspective of Palestinian youths, and their views of the factors that influence wellbeing. Methods A qualitative investigation of twelve focus group discussions was carried out in 2017. The participants were Palestinian youths (aged 18-32 years) residing in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Participants were selected using snowball sampling, with the help of various community organisations, and youths' personal contacts. A total of 123 youths participated in the discussions, which were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Research team members coded the transcripts and then organized codes into key dimensions of life (ie, economic, political, social, and personal), and into themes within these dimensions. Ethics approval was obtained from Birzeit University. Informed verbal consent was obtained from all participants.