Exposure to war-related trauma and symptoms of complex posttraumatic stress disorder among children and adolescents in Gaza.

Background

The war in Gaza has exposed children and adolescents to extreme trauma, violence, and loss, yet little empirical data exist on its psychological impact. This study examines war-trauma exposure and associated mental health outcomes, including probable PTSD, probable complex PTSD (cPTSD), depression, anxiety, and stress.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the psychological impact of prolonged and repeated war-related trauma on post-traumatic symptoms among children and adolescents in Gaza during the ongoing war, with the goal of informing public mental health and humanitarian interventions.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 250 participants aged 12-18 displaced into refugee camps during the war in Gaza. War-related trauma was assessed using the Gaza Traumatic Event Checklist (GTEC). PTSD and cPTSD symptoms were measured with the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ), and depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale for Youth (DASS-Y).

Results

The results showed that all participants are exposed to at least three war traumatic events. Males exposed to more war trauma compared to females. Exposure to war-related trauma has a positive significant correlation with PTSD, cPTSD, stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Furthermore, no gender differences were found regarding PTSD and cPTSD diagnosis. Older adolescents reported higher stress, anxiety, and depression, but age did not predict PTSD or cPTSD. Children and adolescents with greater trauma exposure had higher PTSD and cPTSD scores than those with lower exposure.

Conclusions

Children and adolescents in Gaza experience extremely high levels of PTSD and cPTSD due to chronic war-related trauma. Both genders are affected, with older adolescents showing more internalizing symptoms. These findings underscore the urgent need for culturally sensitive, comprehensive mental health interventions to mitigate long-term psychological harm.