Family quality of life and child psychological well-being in Palestine: a pilot case study

Summary: Bringing to bear an ecological perspective on functioning and well-being, the present work investigated the relationship between impact of trauma in children living in war-like conditions and their parents’ quality of life (QoL). Seventy-four schoolaged children completed self-report measures assessing their personal life satisfaction and perceptions of parental support. Fifty-three parents completed self-report measures assessing their own quality of life. Findings: Although these Palestinian children presented a moderate degree of traumatization, they nonetheless continued to display considerable resources and functioning factors in terms of satisfaction with their families, school and environment. However, ‘social suffering’ on the part of families, which impacts on economic, social, political, and cultural aspects of health and well-being, may undermine the resources that children can draw on in adjusting to trauma. Applications: Clinical and social work interventions should be targeted at strengthening aspects of positive functioning, rather than at ‘correcting’ symptoms protecting Palestinian social capital, in terms of cohesion at the levels of clan, family and community networks.