Exploring the Influence of Perceived Ingroup and Outgroup Threat on Quality of Life in a Region Impacted by Protracted Conflict

Izzeldin Abuelaish (), Ayesha Siddiqua, Susan J. Yousufzai and Caroline Barakat
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Izzeldin Abuelaish: Global Health Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada
Ayesha Siddiqua: Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
Susan J. Yousufzai: Global Health Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada
Caroline Barakat: Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 16, 1-19

Abstract: While the detrimental effects of protracted political conflict on the wellbeing of Palestinians living in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) are generally recognized, the impact of perceived threat on quality of life (QoL) faced from within their community (ingroup; Palestinians) and from the outgroup (Israelis) is unexplored. This cross-sectional study examined the following: (1) The status of perceptions of QoL on four domains measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL-Bref) instrument, physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment, among Palestinian adults ( n = 709) living in the Gaza Strip; (2) The associations between perceived ingroup threat (PIT) and QoL on the four domains; (3) The associations between perceived outgroup threat (POT) and QoL on the four domains. Multivariable linear regression models revealed PIT was negatively associated with QoL in each of the four domains ( p < 0.001). POT was positively associated with QoL in three of the four domains: physical health ( p < 0.001), psychological health ( p < 0.001), and social relationships ( p < 0.001). This study contributes valuable insights into how QoL is viewed by a group experiencing collective existential threat. The findings expand the limited recognition of the reciprocal roles of perceived threat from the ingroup and outgroup on the QoL of vulnerable populations.

Keywords: ingroup threat; intragroup conflict; intergroup conflict; outgroup threat; psychological wellbeing; political conflict exposure; perceived threat; quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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