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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]