The repercussions of watching scenes of the escalating conflict in Gaza strip on the mental health of adolescents in a neighboring country.

BACKGROUND

Over the past decade, prompt technological innovation has accelerated the news dissemination of armed conflict and wars through various media channels, yielding mass fear, anxiety, and depression. Adolescents are more susceptible to experiencing mental distress as a result of watching such uncensored scenes.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the psychological impact of exposure to conflict scenes in the Gaza Strip on the mental health of school adolescents.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study involved 519 adolescents aged 11-18 years, recruited through clustered sampling technique from private and public middle and high schools in Gharbia governorate, Egypt. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was deployed and included the Arabic version of the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS21).

RESULTS

Around 30% of the studied adolescents were diagnosed as stressed, 61.5% were depressed, and 57% were anxious. These adverse mental outcomes were more prevalent among females and adolescents in high schools. Additionally, participants who were regularly exposed to conflict scenes for an average of 5-7 days per week, with a viewing duration exceeding 3 h per day, were more likely to experience these mental issues.

CONCLUSIONS

The study unveiled a high prevalence rate of stress, depression, and anxiety among adolescents. This observation was positively associated with the frequency and intensity of media exposure to the conflict scenes in the area. Supportive initiatives and controlling exposure to media for adolescents in conflict zones have unequivocal value in ameliorating mental disorders.