Coping With Trauma Among Children in South of Gaza Strip

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between trauma, mental health, and coping strategies among children living in south of Gaza Strip

Methodology: The sample consisted of 317 children and their parents. Children were interviewed with Gaza Traumatic Events Checklist, Children Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index, (PTSD-RI) Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) (Teachers, parents, and children forms), Spence Anxiety Scale, and Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences (ACOPE).
Results: Palestinian children reported a mean of 9.34 traumatic events. Boys reported more exposure to traumatic events than girls. Results showed that 25.2% of children had PTSD.The present study showed the prevalence of general mental health problems using SDQ for selfreported, parents and teachers forms (19.4%, 24.3%, and 28.4%).Total score of anxiety was recorded as 41.15. Girls expressed more panic/agoraphobia and separation anxiety than boys. There was a significant correlation between total trauma and PTSD, PTSD and total coping strategies, ventilating feelings and PTSD, social support and PTSD, avoiding problems and PTSD. Clinical applications: An outreach child mental health clinics with multidisciplinary staff need to be established at primary health centers to assess and treat children referred from community agencies and schools after exposure to traumatic events. Similarly, training courses for social workers, primary health workers, school counsellors in the field of trauma should be conducted.