Stress of Siege of Gaza and Locus of Control in Palestinian Children in the Gaza Strip

Abstract

Aim
The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the siege on Palestinian children and adolescents locus of control.
Method
The sample consisted of 184 Palestinian children and adolescents. They were 92 boys (50%) and 92 girls (50%). The sample was
followed from previously randomly selected sample from the entire Gaza Strip as a part of the previous cohort II study. The age
of children ranged from 8-18 years with mean age 14.69 years.
Instruments
Child and adolescents were interviewed by the following: Socio-demographic scale, Gaza Siege checklist-children-form, and locus
of control scale.
Results
The results showed that the most common items of siege of Gaza items were: learning problems due to shortage of electricity
and teachers unable to come to schools (82.6%), I feel I am in a big prison (79.9%), I stopped buying daily needs because prices
are very high (79.3%), I was not able to go to school due to shortage of fuel and absence of transportation (75%), I cannot find
some of the necessary things for studies such as books and stationary (68.5%). The children reported from 1-20 siege items with
mean=9.07. The result showed higher locus of control which means children endorse an external locus of control. Mean total
scores of locus of control of boys was 17.56 and mean was 17.58 for girls. Stressors due to the siege of Gaza were positively
correlated with locus of control score.
Clinical implications
This study is one of few studies performed to evaluate the impact of siege on Palestinian children locus of control. The findings
that children endorse an external locus of control and stressors of siege, highlight the need for more support of children
to increase their coping and using their internal locus of control. Such activities could be by introducing extracurricular activities
include music, theatre, sport, peer discussion, and reading.