Interplay of post-traumatic stress disorder, post-traumatic growth, and social support among Palestinian refugees in West Bank camps: A cross-sectional study

Background: Refugee populations worldwide face significant mental health challenges, and Palestinian refugees, who have experienced prolonged displacement and continuous conflict, may be vulnerable to a range of mental health issues. Systematic reviews indicate that refugees are prone to mental health disorders and that they are over 10 times more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to the general population. Aims: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of PTSD and levels of post-traumatic growth (PTG) among Palestinian refugees in the West Bank camps, as well as to explore the interrelationships between social support and these post-traumatic reactions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 404 Palestinian refugees aged 18-76 in seven West Bank refugee camps. Participants completed standardized instruments to assess PTSD symptoms (PCL-5), post-traumatic growth (PTGI), and social support (MSPSS). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and regression models to examine the relationships between study variables. Results: The study revealed a high PTSD prevalence of 63.6%, with a median symptom score of 39. Notably, no significant correlation was found between PTSD and PTG. Social support showed a weak negative correlation with PTSD (r s = −0.14) and a moderate positive correlation with PTG (r s = 0.361). Gender differences were prominent, with females reporting higher levels of both PTSD symptoms and PTG levels. In addition, variations across camps and education levels were observed. Conclusions: Palestinian refugees exhibit a complex psychological landscape marked by high PTSD prevalence and moderate PTG and social support levels. Our results suggest that PTSD and PTG may develop independently in the refugee context. Social support appears more influential in facilitating post-traumatic growth than in alleviating PTSD symptoms. Our findings, thus, contribute to existing literature by providing an understanding of the traumatic experiences and social support role in the refugee context.