Political Violence and the Palestinian Family

What has political occupation done to Palestinian family life in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip?A psychological study of family members affected by unrest, Political Violence and the Palestinian Family: Implications for Mental Health and Well-Being examines families living in the midst of the conflict in the Middle East to help mental health professionals, social scientists, counselors, and students in these fields create appropriate intervention methods and provide relevant and effective services. Discussing coping, social support, ideology, and the sociopolitical conditions of Palestinian families, this comprehensive guide is the first book that specifically focuses on Palestinians. Political Violence and the Palestinian Family combines quantitative and qualitative research to clarify the sociological and psychological impacts upon Palestinian family life in the wake of the Intifada (the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation). This book depicts the human cost of Israeli occupation on this population and the failure of the Palestinian Authority to ameliorate the effects of violence on this society.Political Violence and the Palestinian Family discusses: - political victimization and how it affects families - the psychiatric symptomatology of Palestinians - the psychological and somatic sequelae of political trauma - techniques for successful sessions with Palestinian clients - appraisal and coping techniques - the values and beliefs of Palestinians Political Violence and the Palestinian Family: Implications for Mental Health and Well-Being will help mental health professionals, social scientists, counselors, and students create appropriate intervention methods and provide relevant and effective services to Palestinian clients.

Vivian Khamis is Associate Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Department of Social Sciences, Bethlehem University, Palestine. She has conducted extensive research on traumatic stress and mental health, child maltreatment, psychopathology, and psychosocial problems in Palestine. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Fulbright Research Award.

Foreword -- Nahid Osseiran -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Chapter 1. An Overview of Political Victimization -- Conceptual Issues in Traumatic Stress -- Chapter 2. Methodology -- Part I: Quantitative Study -- Part II: Qualitative Study -- Chapter 3. TYauma, Mental Health, and Mediators -- Mental Health Status -- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder -- Psychiatric Symptomatology -- Discussion -- Chapter 4. The Psychosocial Contexts of Political Traumas -- Section I: Themes and Narratives -- Section II: Posttrauma Environment and Recovery -- Chapter 5. Conclusions and an Agenda for Action -- Psychological Sequelae of Political Traumas -- Prevention and Intervention Considerations -- Institutional Injustice -- Social Support Mediators -- Sociopolitical Mediators -- Social Policy -- Research Implications -- Closing Remarks -- Appendix A: Factor Structure with Loadings for the Psychiatric Symptoms Index Obtained - by Ilfeld and Pilot Study (N = 150) -- Appendix B: Factor Structure with Loadings for the Well-Being Scale (N = 150) -- Appendix C: Factor Structure with Loadings for the Trauma-Induced Stress Scale (N = 150) -- Appendix D: Factor Structure with Loadings for the Role Strains Scale (N = 150) -- Appendix E: Factor Structure with Loadings for the Ideology Scale (N = 150) -- Appendix F: Factor Structure with Loadings for the Social Support Scale (N = 150) -- Appendix G: Factor Structure with Loadings for the Coping Scale (N = 150) -- Appendix H: Factor Structure with Loadings for the Sociopolitical Satisfaction Scale (N = 150) -- Appendix I: Guide for Focus Group Discussions -- References -- Index.