Hope as the measurable factor of how a young person perceives the future and their ability to be successful within their cultural context over time, is associated with a variety of positive outcomes including increased perceptions of happiness, positive academic achievement, and even lower risk of death (Weir, 2013).  However, for children embedded in long lasting geo-political conflicts that effect negatively individuals, families and communities, and over which they have no ability to affect resolution or progress, hope is an illusive concept. The purpose of the current study was to test self-reported measures of happiness, sadness and hope for the future in narratives of internally displaced Palestinian refugee youth across the West Bank. The sample consisted of (30) youth aged (14-16) years; they were selected purposely from (6) Palestinian internally displaced (IDP) refugee camps (Balata, Askar, Ein Beit al‐ma’, Nur Shams and Jenin) in the West Bank of Palestine. Results demonstrated that factors related to youths perceived happiness were the belief in freedom and peace for the future, interactions and activities with other youth, summer and winter camps and material and emotional rewards they receive from caretakers (parents and teachers). Results also showed that factors contributing to self-reported sadness occupation of their homeland, negative schools conditions such as overcrowding and lack of resources, narrow spaces and houses in the IDP camps, as well as specific incidents of loss and traumatic experiences. Results also indicated that the hope for the future for Palestinian refugee children was based on their stated desires to continuing their education, live in freedom and peace, return to their homeland and to get married and have a family.   This work supports the on-going inability of Palestinian youth to gather positive affect from the strengthening factors in their families and communities and maintain a belief in a better future via pro-social behaviors such as education, the establishment of families and the return of their homes and lands.

Title

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

Publisher

Springer

Publisher Country

United States of America

Indexing

Thomson Reuters

Impact Factor

1.64

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

Volume

18

Year

2020

Pages

1639-1651