Well-being and its determinants from the perspective of the Palestinian youth in the occupied Palestinian territory

Abstract

BackgroundYoung people in the occupied Palestinian territory face challenges—including economic, political, and social challenges—that hinder their wellbeing. It is therefore pertinent to understand the needs of the youth and the factors that determine their well-being. This study explores the understanding and definition of well-being from the perspective of Palestinian youths, and their views of the factors that influence wellbeing. MethodsA qualitative investigation of twelve focus group discussions was carried out in 2017. The participants were Palestinian youths (aged 18–32 years) residing in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Participants were selected using snowball sampling, with the help of various community organisations, and youths' personal contacts. A total of 123 youths participated in the discussions, which were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Research team members coded the transcripts and then organized codes into key dimensions of life (ie, economic, political, social, and personal), and into themes within these dimensions. Ethics approval was obtained from Birzeit University. Informed verbal consent was obtained from all participants. FindingsThe participants defined wellbeing as having good health (both physical and psychological), being active, and having the energy, drive, and stamina to face challenges and to persevere. We organised the reported determinants of wellbeing into four key dimensions of life: political, economic, social, and personal. In general, the participants believed that they influenced wellbeing through their interactions with each other. The political dimension was reported to be an important determinant of wellbeing, and had a direct effect on other dimensions, particularly the economic dimension. Prolonged military occupation and blockade in the Gaza Strip, and related restrictions were perceived to have a negative impact on wellbeing, especially when they limited the youths' mobility and opportunities. The participants' discussions of the internal political situation highlighted the diminishing space for youth in the political and public spheres, as well as a lack of trust in Palestinian political institutions. Participants noted that corruption, cronyism and nepotism, autocracy, and ageism within these institutions further excluded and demoralised youth. The economic dimension included personal and household economic conditions, as well as broader economic conditions, both at the local and country level. The youths believed that adequate economic conditions at the household level are necessary but insufficient to ensure wellbeing, and that poor economic conditions at a broader level, especially unemployment, had negative effects on wellbeing. The social dimension includes both family-level factors and societal-level factors. Most youths considered their families to be a source of support with positive family relationships resulting in better wellbeing. However, experiences within the broader community were mixed, with youths consistently noting that they faced negativity and discouragement from others. The participants reported that personal characteristics moderated the effects of social, economic, and political conditions; personality traits such as determination and perseverance had the potential to help them to overcome negative influences. InterpretationThe findings from this study highlight the ways in which various dimensions of life interact to influence wellbeing from the perspective of Palestinian youths. The extremely challenging political and economic conditions, and the continued exclusion of youth from various aspects of life, as described by participants, hinder wellbeing and add to the discouragement of youth. FundingThe fieldwork for this study was funded by a grant from Oxfam Quebec.