Mental health burden of conflict: rates and correlates of depressive and anxiety symptoms among displaced Palestinian children and adolescents in Qatar

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Mohamed Adil Shah Khoodoruth, Yahia Albobali, Olfa Selmi, Sami Ouanes, Marwan Abdelkarim Ali Abdelkarim, Areeg Hassan Mohamed Elhassan, Menatalla Abdelkader, Taieb Turki, Ahmed Abdelhakim Ahmed Elzok, Abdul Waheed Khan, Majid Alabdulla, Yasser Saeed Khan

Published: 01 Jan 2026, Last Modified: 25 Jan 2026BJPsych OpenEveryoneRevisionsCC BY-SA 4.0
Abstract: BackgroundChildren displaced by armed conflict are at high risk of experiencing psychological distress. The ongoing war in Gaza has resulted in widespread trauma among Palestinian youth, yet limited data exist on their mental health following displacement. This study assessed the prevalence and correlates of anxiety and depressive symptoms among war-displaced Palestinian refugee children and adolescents resettled in Qatar.AimsTo estimate the prevalence of clinically significant anxiety and depressive symptoms and to identify psychosocial and trauma-related factors associated with symptom severity in this population.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 Palestinian children (aged 8–17 years) residing in a residential compound in Qatar. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders-Child Version and the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire-Child Version, respectively. A Resilience and Demographic Questionnaire was devised to assess trauma exposure and psychosocial variables. Multiple linear regression identified factors associated with symptom severity.ResultsClinically significant anxiety and depressive symptoms were found in 70.9 and 46.0% of participants, respectively. Separation anxiety was the most common subtype. Female gender, witnessing death, physical injury and disrupted caregiving were significantly associated with worse outcomes.ConclusionsThis study highlights the urgent need for trauma-informed, culturally sensitive mental health services for displaced Palestinian children and young people. While clinical interventions are vital, a sustainable resolution to the conflict is essential to mitigate further psychological harm.