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YorkSpace is York University's Institutional Repository. It supports York University's Senate Policy on Open Access by providing York community members with a place to preserve their research online in an institutional context.
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- Previously Faculty of Environmental Studies (FES)
- The Global Labour Research Centre (GLRC) engages in the study of work, employment and labour in the context of a constantly changing global economy.
- Lives Outside the Lines: a Symposium in Honour of Marlene Kadar
- Used only for SWORD Deposit by Adminstrator
- Welcome to WILAA, a gathering place for materials related to research projects that explore work-integrated learning and disability-related accessibility and accommodations.
Recent Submissions
The Relationship between War Trauma and Anxiety and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Preschool Children in the Gaza strip
(Arab Journal of Psychiatry, 2017-05) Al Ghalayini, Heba; thabet, abdelaziz
Aim: The current study investigated the relationship between war trauma and anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among preschool children in the Gaza Strip.
Methods: N=399 mothers and their preschool children who were enrolled in kindergartens in the Gaza Strip. Child ages ranged from 3-6 years with mean age of 4.48 years. Mothers were interviewed using a sociodemographic questionnaire, Gaza Traumatic Events Checklist, Child PTSD Symptom Scale-parent form, and Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale.
Results: The most commonly reported traumatic experiences by mothers for their children were: hearing shelling of the area by artillery (95.5%), hearing loud noises from drones (89.2%) and seeing mutilated bodies on TV (81.2%). The mean number of traumas experienced by preschool children was 8.3. PTSD prevalence was 6% with scores higher in children aged five and older. The mean for total anxiety was 49.84, generalized anxiety was 10.7, social anxiety was 8.4; specific phobia was 21.1, and separation anxiety was 9.65. There were significant associations between trauma and PTSD and anxiety as well as a significant association between PTSD and anxiety.
Conclusion: Preschool children exposed to war-related incidents are at risk of developing PTSD and anxiety problems, which highlights the need to establish programs for preschool children affected by traumatic events associated with war.
Relationship between Stressors Due to Siege of Gaza Strip on Anxiety, Depression and Coping Strategies among University Students
(Arab Journal of Psychiatry, 2015-05) thabet, abdelaziz; Joma’a, Abeer
Aim: The present study assessed siege related stressors and their impact on the depression, anxiety and coping strategies among university students in the Gaza Strip.
Method: It is descriptive analytic study comprised of 399 randomly selected university students from the four main universities in Gaza Strip (Al-Aqsa, Al-Azhar, Al-Quds Open
and Islamic University). Five questionnaires were used: sociodemographic questionnaire, the Gaza Stressful Situations Checklist, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Carver Brief Coping Scale.
Results: The most frequently reported stressors were: sharply increased prices due to closure (92% of students), studies being affected so much due to cut-off of electricity (83.5%), and shortage of gas. Results showed that mean stressors in men were 12.38 and 10.33 in women. The study showed 9.5% of men and 12% of women had severe depression although no gender differences were found. In addition, 10.3% of men and 13.8% of women had anxiety. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between total stress due to siege and depression symptoms and anxiety. The most frequent coping strategies were finding comfort in religious beliefs (78.2%), thinking about what steps to take (71.4%), and learning to live with the situation (67.7%). A significant negative relationship was found between total score of stress due to siege and total coping strategies.
Conclusion: The Gaza siege has had lasting negative effects on Palestinians, which has led to increased mental health problems among and to them using fewer positive coping strategies. Humanitarian organizations should play a more positive role to protect the Palestinian community from the negative consequences of siege. Further research is recommended to evaluate the impact of siege on Palestinian people in all aspects of life and to provide therapeutic interventions for university students with moderate and severe depression.
The relationship between mothers’ mental health and the prevalence of depression and anxiety of preschool children after the war on Gaza Strip
(Arab Journal of Psychiatry, 2014-05) thabet, abdelaziz; Ashraf, Abu bakar; Vostanis, Panos
Objective: The present study investigated the prevalence of depression and anxiety among preschool children and relationship to mothers’ mental health.
Participants: A sample of 380 preschool children aged 4-6 years with their mothers were selected from 24 kindergartens in the Gaza Strip.
Method: Children were assessed by maternal reports for depression and anxiety; their mothers were assessed using the General Health Questionnaire-28.
Results: Results showed the mean anxiety score for preschool children was 27.46, generalized anxiety mean was 3.42, social anxiety was 3.94, obsessive compulsive disorder was 4.92, physical injury fear was 10.47, and separation anxiety 4.94. No gender differences in showing anxiety symptoms except for physical injury fear which was greater in girls than boys. Anxiety problems were greater in children with low family income; no significant differences between the means of preschoolers’ anxiety problems according to type of residence or number of siblings. Mean depression was 33.10, mean lack of vitality and worthlessness was 12.98, mean loneliness and anxiety was 9.03, and mean anger and aggression 7.37. There were significant differences
in depression for children with low family income although no significant differences according to type of residence. For mothers, mean total GHQ scale was 6.54, somatic symptoms was 1.80; mean anxiety and insomnia was 2.18, mean social dysfunction was 1.26, and severe depression was 1. Using 4/5 cut-off points, cases of mothers according to GHQ-28 were
185 (53.6%) and 160 (46.3%) were not cases.
Conclusion: There was a significant positive correlation between mental health problems of mothers and subscales and depression and anxiety and subscales of their children.
Posttraumatic Stress and Growth among War-Exposed Orphans in the Gaza Strip
(Arab Journal of Psychiatry, 2018-11) thabet, abdelaziz; ElRabbaiy, Alaa
Aim: The present study explored the impact of trauma on war-exposed orphans in the Gaza Strip reporting symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG).
Participants: N=83 children attending the orphanage, El-Amal Institute, in Gaza city were included.
Method: Measures were The Gaza Traumatic Events Checklist, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index (UCLA PTSD-RI), Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and a demographic questionnaire.
Results: Participants experienced 3 to 28 traumatic events (M=11.19). Those aged 12-14 years reported more traumatic events than younger and older children; 49.4% reported no PTSD symptoms, 32.5% reported partial PTSD, and 18.1% reported full criteria of PTSD. Children in the middle age group (12-14 years) reported higher levels of PTSD than younger and older groups. The PTGI scale found 78.31% reported they had a stronger religious faith with 70.7% stating they learned a great deal about how wonderful people are. Total posttraumatic growth among orphan children mean was 25.27. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between total traumatic events due to war and PTSD, numbness symptoms, and arousal symptoms. While, there was no correlation with PTG nor was there a correlation between PTSD and PTG.
Conclusion: Orphaned children reported significant trauma and PTSD symptom levels, which suggests the need for governmental and non-governmental organizations to identify therapeutic programs to improve their daily functioning and productivity in future. Training is needed for caregivers in different institutions to ensure early detection of children with mental health problems and identify best ways to support.
Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder among a school-based sample of Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip
(Arab Journal of Psychiatry, 2014-11) thabet, abdelaziz; Elumour, Ikram
Aim: The present study investigated prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorders among Palestinian children in the south Gaza Strip.
Methods: Three hundred and eighty eight participants (194 boys, 194 girls), aged 12 to 15 years (M=13.5 years), were selected from eight governmental and United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) preparatory schools. A self-report questionnaire, including sociodemographic scale, was completed. Teachers and parents completed the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV diagnosis of ADHD while parents and their children completed a conduct disorder scale.
Results: Parents reported 4.4% of children fulfilled the full criteria of ADHD combined type. According to teachers, 9.8% fulfilled the full criteria of ADHD combined type. ADHD combined type symptoms were higher in boys than girls. Children in governmental schools had more ADHD combined type than in UNRWA schools according to teachers who also rated children living in families with low family monthly income as having more ADHD. Parents reported 15.7% of children had conduct disorder while 17.5% of children self-reported the condition. Boys self-reported had higher levels of conduct disorder than girls, which supported parent ratings. Regarding comorbidity, 6.7% of children rated by parents had inattentive disorder and conduct; 5.2% of children had both conduct and hyperactivity-impulsivity disorder; and, 3.4% had both combined ADHD and conduct
disorder.
Conclusion: Findings confirmed a strong relationship between ADHD and conduct disorder and provided specific data on the prevalence in Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip. Such findings highlight the need to establish psychosocial rehabilitation programs in schools and community-based centers so children and their families can learn to overcome the adverse impact of such disorders on psychosocial development and academic achievement. Psychoeducation for parents and teachers should focus on early detection of behavioral problems and of alternatives approaches such as behavior modification to deal with such problems.