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Palestine-Israel War Coping Strategies of Tunisian People

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2024

N. Messedi
Affiliation:
1Psychiatry B, Hedi Cheker University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
F. Guermazi
Affiliation:
1Psychiatry B, Hedi Cheker University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
A. Samet
Affiliation:
1Psychiatry B, Hedi Cheker University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
I. Chaari
Affiliation:
1Psychiatry B, Hedi Cheker University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
M. Sehli*
Affiliation:
1Psychiatry B, Hedi Cheker University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
F. Charfeddine
Affiliation:
1Psychiatry B, Hedi Cheker University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
L. Aribi
Affiliation:
1Psychiatry B, Hedi Cheker University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
J. Aloulou
Affiliation:
1Psychiatry B, Hedi Cheker University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

The war in Gaza is a stressful life event. Due to its significant human and financial losses, it affected the mental health of people around the world including the middle east citizens.

Objectives

To study the coping strategies of Tunisian people toward Palestine-Israel war in its first month and the factors associated with them.

Methods

It was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, conducted among Tunisians. Data were collected during October and November 2023, through an anonymous online questionnaire, spread throughout social media (Facebook/Instagram), using the Google Forms® platform. We used a socio-demographic and clinical data sheet and the “Brief-COPE” to assess coping strategies.

Results

A total of 1091 participants completed the questionnaire. Their mean age was 32,7± 9.8 years, with a sex-ratio (F/M) of 3.5. Among participants, 46,1% are married, 42,5% have children and 19,5% have a psychiatric follow history. Sport’s practitioners represent 23,3% of the participants and 10,6% increased their use of sports after the war news.

In terms of coping strategies: problem focused coping was the most used strategy (mean= 2,02) followed by emotional focused coping (mean= 1,98) and avoidant coping (mean= 1,63). Tunisians rely the most on religion, accepting reality and planning as coping mechanisms (score= 2,85; 2,4 and 2,23 respectively). Substance use was the last resort option (score= 1,11).

Our survey revealed significant associations between coping mechanisms and several factors: Venting, humor and behavioral disengagement were significantly correlated with sex gender (p=0,000 ; 0,000 ; 0,000 respectively); Substance use coping mechanism was significantly correlated with participants having a psychiatric follow history (p=0,001); Avoidant coping subscale was significantly correlated with having children (p=0,000); Self distraction was significantly correlated with the increase use of sport among Tunisians (p=0,000).

Conclusions

These findings underscore the need for healthcare and productive coping strategies for Tunisians and middle east people during the Palestine-Israel war.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
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