POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES: THE MEDIATING ROLES OF COPING STRATEGIES, SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND HELP-SEEKING AMONG PALESTINIANS
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Date
2025-07-17
Authors
Abumonsharو Ahmad
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Publisher
An-Najah National University
Abstract
Decades of political violence - including displacement, systemic oppression, and settler aggression - have had a profound impact on the mental health of Palestinians. Despite escalating violence, research on psychological outcomes and mediating factors (coping, social support, help-seeking) remains limited.
This study examined first, the relationship between political violence and mental health (depression, stress, anxiety); second, the mediating roles of coping strategies, social support, and help-seeking; and third, demographic differences (gender, location, education) in these variables.
A quantitative descriptive-correlational approach was used, with standardized surveys administered to 375 Palestinians living in the West Bank. Data were analyzed using path analysis (AMOS v24) and MANOVA/ANOVA.
This study finds that political violence significantly predicts higher depression, stress, and anxiety, while reducing problem-solving coping and social support. Adaptive coping (e.g., problem solving) mitigated distress depression, whereas avoidance coping exacerbated anxiety. Social support indirectly improved outcomes by promoting help-seeking.
Men reported higher exposure to political violence, while women experienced greater stress. Camp residents were exposed to increased violence, while urban individuals were more likely to seek help - higher education correlated with adaptive coping, but also increased stress.
The mental health effects of political violence are mediated by coping and social resources. Culturally tailored interventions - in particular, strengthening community support and adaptive coping - are urgently needed to address systemic psychological trauma in the Occupied Territory.