Agency, life satisfaction, hope, potentially traumatic events, trauma symptoms, and psychological signs. A two waves study with a sample of Palestinian children living in different geographical areas

Abstract

We sought to examine the changes over time regarding children’s agency, life satisfaction, hope, psychological problems, trauma symptoms and potentially traumatic events in areas where warfare, military presence and settler-colonial violence are affecting children’s lives. 965 Palestinian children, 494 males and 471 females, were assessed with the Traumatic Check List, Children Impact of events scale-Revised, Strength and difficulties scale, Children Hope Scale, Brief Multilevel Children Life satisfaction scale, and War Child Agency assessment Scale-Palestinian version. MANOVA and t-tests were run to detect differences between groups and in the two waves of data collection. Findings showed variations that suggested Palestinian children were potentially in danger of not having the capacity to take charge of their lives and losing hope. In contrast, life satisfaction, contrary to our expectations, remained stable. While the number of potentially traumatic events decreased, psychological distress and trauma symptoms among the participants increased. Girls were more hopeful than boys, and the most satisfied children were found in the West Bank. The younger children had more significant trauma symptoms, while the older children were exposed to more potentially traumatic events such as those with fewer siblings. Gaza, Jerusalem, and Bedouin areas had the highest risk of potentially traumatizing events, and children in these areas were the most exposed. Our research study revealed a worrisome decrease in agentic resources and an increase in trauma symptoms because of the widespread armed conflict, impeding their healthy development, life satisfaction and hope for the future.