Mental Health Disorders and Coping Strategies Among Palestinian Refugees in Egypt During the 2023 War on Gaza: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: The ongoing war on Gaza has a devastating impact on Palestinians, particularly on their psychological well-being. AIMS: To assess mental health disorders and coping strategies among Palestinians displaced to Egypt during the 2023 Gaza war. METHODS: A cross-sectional study included Palestinian refugees older than 18 years. Impact of Event Scale-6, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Coping Strategies Inventory-Short Form were used to assess posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and coping mechanisms, respectively. RESULTS: Among the 558 participants, 62.2% were females, with a mean age of 33.91 ± 11.84 years. Prevalence rates of PTSD, anxiety, and depression were 37.5%, 94.1%, and 94.8%, respectively. Emotion disengagement was the most adopted coping strategy. Multiple linear regression showed that PTSD was positively associated with being female, anxiety, depression, and the use of problem engagement, problem disengagement, and emotion disengagement coping strategies. Very good financial status and difficulty accessing healthcare were negatively associated with PTSD. Anxiety was associated with older age, being female, difficulty finding a job, war-related injury, PTSD, depression, and problem disengagement, while emotion engagement was protective. Depression was associated with a family history of mental illness, housing difficulties, emotion disengagement, anxiety, and PTSD, while problem engagement and being female were protective. CONCLUSIONS: Context-sensitive psychosocial interventions that strengthen coping strategies are essential to alleviate the psychological burden among this vulnerable population.