Prevalence of violence and quality of life among nursing students during the 7th of October War in Palestine.

Abstract

Background: Nursing students in Palestine face unique stressors during armed conflict, including exposure to violence and disruptions in clinical education. The 7th of October War in Gaza heightened these challenges, impacting their psychological well-being and overall quality of life (QoL).

Objective: To assess the prevalence of violence and quality of life among nursing students at Palestine Polytechnic University during the 7th of October War.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2025 among 335 undergraduate nursing students using a self-administered questionnaire. It included sociodemographic data, war-related exposures, and the Arabic version of the WHOQOL-BREF. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.

Results: More than half (63.3%) reported regularly passing through Israeli military checkpoints, and among them, 83% experienced violence, mostly verbal (50%), followed by psychological (39%) and physical (11%). Additionally, 92% witnessed violence against others at these checkpoints. QoL scores were lowest in the environmental (48.2) and psychological (56.2) domains. Overall, 74.6% reported poor QoL in the environmental domain. Students exposed to checkpoints or violence had significantly lower QoL scores (p < .001). City residents reported higher QoL compared to rural and campus-based students (p = .006).

Conclusion: Nursing students in Palestine endure high rates of violence and poor quality of life during conflict, especially in environmental and psychological aspects. These findings call for urgent interventions, including psychosocial support and institutional policies that prioritize student safety and well-being in conflict zones.