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Public sector social workers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories experience loss and trauma on a daily basis. Study objectives were to: (a) assess levels of three mental health outcomes and (b) examine workplace correlates among Palestinian social workers in the West Bank. Results revealed alarmingly high percentages of workers who met clinical thresholds for somatic symptoms (70.9%), distress (34.7%), and anxiety (19.3%). Multivariate regression models explained 25–32% of outcome variance. Job stress, exposure to violence, and job satisfaction were significant in two models, and physical health was significant in three models. Policy, practice, and future research implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the direct effects of work-related factors (i.e., organizational support, job security, job stress) on life satisfaction among public-sector social workers (N = 221) in the occupied Palestinian Territory and the indirect effects of those variables on life satisfaction through job satisfaction. Using path analysis, results indicated that job security directly influenced life satisfaction. Organizational support and job stress indirectly influenced life satisfaction through job satisfaction. Policies such as fair work contracts and supportive supervisors could enhance social workers' well-being. Future research is needed to strengthen our understanding of other factors related to life satisfaction (e.g., trauma exposure). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale has been widely used in assessing psychological distress among general and clinical populations from different cultural backgrounds. To our knowledge, however, researchers have not yet validated any translated versions in Arabic. The purpose of this study was to test the reliability and validity of Arabic translations of the ten item (K10) and six item (K6) versions among public sector employees in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.Methods: As part of a larger research project on life satisfaction, researchers collected data from 234 Palestinian social workers in June and July of 2016. The survey included several mental health measures, including the K10, which were translated from English to Arabic by an experienced language expert. In the current study, we tested reliability by measuring internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Next, we assessed factor structure using variance-covariance matrix with maximum likelihood estimation. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to examine three competing models: unidimensional K10 model, unidimensional K6 model and two-factor K6 model. Fit indices and parameter estimates were reported. Last, convergent validity was examined by assessing correlations with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and Somatic Symptoms Scale (SSS-8).Results: The mean scores for the K6 and K10 were, respectively, 12.87 (SD = 4.02) and 21.8 (SD = 6.7), indicative of mild to moderate levels of distress. Scale reliability analysis showed satisfactory results on both K6 and K10 versions (Cronbach's α = .81 (K6) and .88 (K10)). Among three competing models, the two-factor K6 scale demonstrated the best model fit with high factorial correlations (r = .60, p < .001). Moreover, the K6 has high convergent validity with GAD-7 (r = .66, p < .001) and SSS-8 (r = .61, p < .001).Conclusion: Results indicated that the translated version of the two-factor K6 scale is a valid and reliable measurement of psychological distress. Our findings suggest that practitioners and researchers can use this instrument in screening and assessing psychological symptoms with Arabic-speaking populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study explored the perceptions of Palestinian social service executive directors and social workers regarding the effects of working in the turbulent environment of East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Focus groups with social workers and individual interviews with administrators examined how shared vicarious trauma (VT) influenced social workers’ ability to complete their tasks, serve their clients, and manage the stress of their surroundings. The shared nature of the VT allows agency administrators, workers, and clients to evoke a common perception of the world in which they live and work. The study found that the strategies Palestinian agencies used to help workers handle the trauma they experience in their jobs and lives were guided by the administrators’ understanding of shared VT and the need for agencies to respond with supportive activities and structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty and marginalization have increased considerably worldwide. Women in low resource countries continue to be overrepresented among vulnerable groups. Various initiatives have been undertaken to remedy the situation. Primary among these are the World Bank’s poverty reduction strategies, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and the microfinance movement: We focus specifically on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, a global policy initiative undertaken to reduce vulnerability by the year 2015. Using a systematic review of the literature, we examine the effects of three MDGs on the welfare of women in sub-Saharan Africa. Challenges and policy recommendations are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social work professionals experience job-related stressors often associated with compromised mental health. In low-resource, conflict settings, such as the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), structural and environmental obstacles pose additional challenges. This qualitative study identified stressors faced by 237 Palestinian social workers, current organizational strategies to reduce worker stress, and recommendations for new strategies. Content analysis identified 12 categories of stressors within five domains: role-related, interpersonal, organizational, societal, and miscellaneous. Current stress reduction efforts are perceived as ineffective, but numerous suggestions were offered for new initiatives. Implications for policy, practice, and research are discussed. Practice Points Palestinian public sector social workers face a litany of stressors at multiple levels, including role-related, interpersonal, organizational, and societal. In addition to the types of workplace stressors typically associated with social worker burnout and secondary traumatic stress, Palestinian social workers must also contend with stressors related to operating in a low-resource setting and under Israeli military occupation. While the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development is limited in its capacity to address many of the structural factors that contribute to worker stress, opportunities exist to promote worker well-being at an organizational level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]