Citation

Hammad J, Tribe R. J. Community Psychol. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

School of Psychology, University of East London, London, United Kingdom.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jcop.22367

PMID

32399970

Abstract

Structural violence and economic oppression (e.g. control over resources, politically engineered poverty and unemployment) are common features of warfare, yet there is a lack of research exploring the impact this has on civilian wellbeing in conflict-affected areas. This study, embedded within a human rights and community liberation psychology framework, aims to address this need by studying young Palestinian university graduates living under military blockade and occupation in the Gaza Strip. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis indicated that economic and political domains adversely affected multiple aspects of civilian life and wellbeing. The findings revealed the deleterious effects of structural violence and economic oppression which created: human insecurity; poor psychological wellbeing and quality of life; existential, psychological and social suffering; humiliation; injuries to dignity; multiple losses; and led to life being experienced as 'on hold'. Local expressions and idioms to express distress were identified. The findings contributed to unique insights regarding how continual, systemic, and structural oppression can be potentially more psychologically detrimental than specific incidents of conflict and violence. The implications and the relevance of the findings to mental health and disaster relief are considered. Interventions providing human security and economic security should be prioritised.

© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Community Psychology Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Language: en

Keywords

economic oppression; occupied Palestinian territories; political conflict; psychosocial wellbeing; structural violence