Alhalaseh Lana, Alghzawi Asma, Khalifa Suha, Saleh Abd-Arrahman, Yousef Dima, Alsoub Fatima, Okour Maram, Rahhal Rana J
Department of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2025 Dec;16(1):2506961. doi: 10.1080/20008066.2025.2506961. Epub 2025 Jun 9.
People residing in war zones have direct exposure to trauma. In contrast, people living in nearby countries have indirect exposure to trauma and can develop negative psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression or stress.
This study aimed to study the mental ill effects of the war on people living in a neighbouring country to a war zone.
A cross-sectional study of 568 community adults >18 years old who live in Jordan was conducted 1-2 months after the Israeli-Palestinian conflict erupted in October 2023. The online survey, spread through social media accounts, included the Depression Anxiety & Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21) and questions about socio-demographic factors and measures to improve emotional status.
The mean age was 34.49 ± 12.75. 81.2%, 55.8% and 61.3% of the participants screened positive for depression, anxiety and stress, respectively, with 44.4%, 28.5%, and 32.9% of them having severe to extreme degrees of depression, anxiety and stress, respectively. Female gender, past anxiolytic treatment and daily time spent watching the news were positive predictors of depression, anxiety and stress. Knowing acquaintances in the war zone or living in a refugee camp were not predictors of psychological symptoms. Spirituality was the most commonly used coping strategy, yet talking to family and friends was the only coping strategy significantly associated with a better emotional state.
People living near conflicts often experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress regardless of having acquaintances under direct conflict. High-risk groups include females, patients with past anxiolytic self-treatment, and those with long daily exposure to war-related media content. Emotional screening and support by trained healthcare workers to identify early signs of depression, anxiety and stress are warranted.
居住在战区的人们直接遭受创伤。相比之下，生活在邻国的人们间接遭受创伤，并可能出现焦虑、抑郁或压力等负面心理症状。
本研究旨在探讨战争对战区邻国居民的心理健康影响。
在2023年10月以色列-巴勒斯坦冲突爆发后的1-2个月，对居住在约旦的568名18岁以上社区成年人进行了横断面研究。通过社交媒体账户传播的在线调查包括抑郁焦虑压力量表-21（DASS-21）以及关于社会人口学因素和改善情绪状态措施的问题。
平均年龄为34.49±12.75岁。分别有81.2%、55.8%和61.3%的参与者在抑郁、焦虑和压力筛查中呈阳性，其中分别有44.4%、28.5%和32.9%的人患有重度至极重度的抑郁、焦虑和压力。女性、过去接受过抗焦虑治疗以及每天观看新闻的时间是抑郁、焦虑和压力的阳性预测因素。在战区认识熟人或居住在难民营并不是心理症状的预测因素。精神信仰是最常用的应对策略，但与家人和朋友交谈是唯一与更好情绪状态显著相关的应对策略。
生活在冲突地区附近的人们，无论是否在直接冲突中有熟人，都经常出现抑郁、焦虑和压力症状。高危人群包括女性、过去有抗焦虑自我治疗史的患者以及每天长时间接触与战争相关媒体内容的人。由训练有素的医护人员进行情绪筛查和提供支持，以识别抑郁、焦虑和压力的早期迹象是必要的。
