Beyond Survival: A Qualitative Study on the Intersection of Caregiving, Coping, and Mental Health in Gaza's Ongoing Mass Massacre.

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the experiences of women and children in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and subsequent Israeli military responses. It aims to understand how these women navigate war-induced challenges, focusing on coping mechanisms through Lazarus's stress theory. Thirty internally displaced Palestinian women from Rafah, aged 18 to 59 (M = 31.25, SD = 10.09), participated in semi-structured interviews, facilitated by Arabic-speaking research assistants to ensure clear communication. Participants, recruited via a snowball sampling technique, detailed their war-related trauma and coping strategies. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Key findings revealed five major themes: the profound impact of war on everyday life, unique challenges for women as caregivers, adaptive coping strategies, mental health repercussions, and community-based resilience. Women reported significant losses, scarcity of resources, and constant fear, with daily routines focused on basic survival amid overcrowded refugee camps. Coping strategies included community support networks and spiritual practices that demonstrated both resilience and vulnerability. Inter-coder reliability was high (Cohen's kappa = .94), ensuring robust analysis. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing the multifaceted needs of women and children in conflict zones through a human rights-focused approach, considering intersectional inequalities. These findings aim to inform humanitarian efforts, advocating for interventions that prioritize safety, dignity, and empowerment for women affected by war.