Exposure to child abuse and neglect, and formal and non-formal social support, in the presence of post-traumatic symptoms and resilience among young Arab-Palestinian women in Israel

Abstract

Child abuse is associated with a high risk of developing post-traumatic symptoms (PTS). Prior research has focused on short and long-term consequences of abuse but ignored these consequences among Young Arab-Palestinian women. In order to bridge this gap our study examined the role of exposure to child abuse and neglect, and formal and non-formal social support, in the presence of PTS and resilience among young Arab women in Israel. The participants (n = 482) aged 18–25 filled out questionnaires regarding background information, exposure to child abuse (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–Short Form), social support, formal support, PTS (Screen for Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms), and resilience (Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale–10). PTS and barriers to formal support were higher among participants who were exposed to abuse and neglect in childhood. Resilience, extent of non-formal social support, and satisfaction with non-formal and formal support were lower among participants exposed to abuse and neglect in childhood. PTS were positively related with exposure to child abuse and neglect, negatively related with satisfaction with non-formal social support, and positively related with barriers to formal support, beyond the background variables. Our findings highlight the importance of implementing context informed and trauma informed practice with young Arab women in order to reduce barriers to service use and promote satisfaction from receiving support as a pathway to reducing PTS.