Psychological Impact and Among Nursing Students in the West Bank after the October Gaza War

• Jabareen, Raneen ^[1] ; M. Tarayrah, Zainab ^[1] ; M. Bhias, Lujain ^[1] ; R. Abujabeen, Malak ^[1] ; M. Manasrah, Nagham ^[1] ; S. Mughanam, Nourman ^[1] ; I. Hrenat, Roaa ^[1] ; M. Asafrah, Roaa ^[1]
  1. [1] Palestine Polytechnic University

     Palestine Polytechnic University

     Territorios Palestinos

     
• Localización: Nursing Depths Series, ISSN-e 3072-8118, Nº. 4, 2025 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Nursing Depths Series)
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Background: The October 2023 Gaza War's psychological impact extended beyond its epicenter, affecting populations throughout the region. Nursing students, facing dual pressures of academic training and exposure to collective trauma, represent a vulnerable yet understudied group in the West Bank.

    Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of PTSD-related symptoms among nursing students in the West Bank following the October Gaza War and to explore variations across demographic factors.

    Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 195 nursing students from universities across the West Bank. Participants completed a structured questionnaire collecting demographic data and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) to measure symptoms of intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and ANOVA.

    Results: The sample was predominantly female (71.3%), single (89.2%), with a mean age of 21 years. Participants reported moderate to high levels of psychological impact. Intrusion symptoms were prominent (e.g., "Any reminder brought back feelings," Mean=2.21), alongside significant avoidance behaviors (e.g., "I tried not to think about it," Mean=1.94). Hyperarousal symptoms, particularly irritability (Mean=2.07) and difficulty concentrating (Mean=1.95), were also elevated. No statistically significant differences in total IES-R scores were found across gender, academic year, place of residence, or marital status (all p > .05).

    Conclusion: The findings indicate a significant and pervasive psychological impact on nursing students, highlighting a urgent need for institutional mental health support, trauma-informed educational strategies, and accessible counseling services to safeguard the well-being of the future healthcare workforce in Palestine.