symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and coping mechanisms among the Palestinian children who live near the settlements of the old city of Hebron

This comparative study addressed the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and coping mechanisms among the Palestinian children who live near the settlements of the old city of Hebron. The filed work measures of the study have been implemented during the period of December 2008 and April 2009. The population of the study consisted of children between the ages of (10-18) years. For research purposes, the population of the study consisted of a control group and a research group, to examine whether there are statistical significant differences among those who are exposed almost daily to suffering and harassment by the presence of the settlements in the neighborhoods where they live and the residents of other neighborhoods which does not have settlements near them. The research sample was formed using (204) children, (102) children in the research group and (102) children in the control group. To reach the sample of the study the researcher adopted a stratified random sampling technique to choose the members of the two groups. The study aimed to identify the quality of the traumatic experiences encountered by members of the experimental group (children who are living near settlements) and whether they have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, the study aimed at checking the adjustment methods used by the respondents in dealing with psychological stressors according to the variables (sex, study level, age, and living area). Finally, the study came up with recommendations for workers in mental health and the decision makers to help children in getting better mental health conditionsThe questionnaire was used as an essential tool for gathering data, which consisted of four parts. The first part contained the general preliminary data of the study sample; the second part contained questions about the traumatic experiences that children who live near the settlements are exposed to, to identify their severity which consisted of (11) items. However, the third part contained the Mississippi scale which assessed (PTSD) that was developed by Ken and his colleges in (1988) and it consisted of (35) items. Finally, the forth part contained the scale of adaptation with daily life stressful events, which consisted of (30) items. After the end of data collection and double checking and validation, it was entered to the computer and analyzed using SPSS. The study found statistically significant difference in the level of PTSD symptoms of (avoidance and emotional indifference) between the controlgroup and the experimental group in relation to age, where the older participants (18 years) had more severe symptoms. However, in regards to the scale for adaptation to daily life events for the experimental group, there was statistically significant difference in regards to negative reaction dimension for the sack of those who are 16 years and older, and also it was associated with level of education with relevance to respondents of grade nine. Nevertheless, the responses of the control group showed none of these differences. In the end, the researcher suggested some recommendations for mental health workers, policy-makers, and researchers in order to invest in the welfare of children and provide better mental health services for them