Predictors of Depressive Symptoms Among Israeli Jews and Arabs During the Al Aqsa Intifada: a Population-based Cohort Study

Overview

Journal Ann Epidemiol

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Public Health

Date 2008 Feb 12

PMID 18261923

Citations 14

Authors

Melissa Tracy

Stevan E Hobfoll

Daphna Canetti-Nisim

Sandro Galea

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: We sought to assess the predictors of depressive symptoms in a population-based cohort exposed to ongoing and widespread terrorism.

Methods: Interviews of a representative sample of adults living in Israel, including both Jews and Arabs, were conducted between August and September 2004, with follow-up interviews taking place between February and April 2005. Censoring weights were estimated to account for differential loss to follow-up. Zero-inflated negative binomial models with bootstrapped confidence intervals were fit to assess predictors of severity of depressive symptoms, assessed using items from the Patient Health Questionnaire.

Results: A total of 1613 Israeli residents participated in the baseline interview (80.8% Jewish, 49.4% male, mean age 43 years); 840 residents also participated in the follow-up interview. In multivariable models, Israeli Arab ethnicity, lower household income, lower social support, experiencing economic loss from terrorism, experiencing higher levels of psychosocial resource loss, and meeting criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder were significantly associated with increased severity of depressive symptoms.

Conclusions: Material deprivation is the primary modifiable risk factor for depressive symptoms in the context of ongoing terrorism. Efforts to minimize ongoing material and economic stressors may mitigate the mental health consequences of ongoing terrorism.

Citing Articles

Non-participation and attrition in a longitudinal study of civilians exposed to the January 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, France.

Vuillermoz C, Stene L, Aubert L, Motreff Y, Pirard P, Baubet T BMC Med Res Methodol. 2020; 20(1):63.

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Trajectories of childhood adversity and the risk of depression in young adulthood: Results from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

Tracy M, Salo M, Slopen N, Udo T, Appleton A Depress Anxiety. 2019; 36(7):596-606.

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Fear of violence during armed conflict: Social roles and responsibilities as determinants of fear.

Williams N, Ghimire D, Snedker K Soc Sci Res. 2018; 71:145-159.

PMID: 29514755 PMC: 5846491. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2018.01.004.

PTSD and Depression Among Museum Workers After the March 18 Bardo Museum Terrorist Attack.

Fekih-Romdhane F, Chennoufi L, Cheour M Community Ment Health J. 2017; 53(7):852-858.

PMID: 28176209 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-017-0085-z.

A Longitudinal Investigation of the Relationship between Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Posttraumatic Growth in a Cohort of Israeli Jews and Palestinians during Ongoing Violence.

Hall B, Saltzman L, Canetti D, Hobfoll S PLoS One. 2015; 10(4):e0124782.

PMID: 25910043 PMC: 4409119. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124782.

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