PALESTINIAN SOCIETY - Fafo

Protective Factors
Stress tolerance in situations involving physical danger, i.e. threats
to one' s health or life, increases along with the quality of cohesi veness
of the group to which one belongs. Similarly, it is influenced
by the degree of trust in the leadership of the group, the strength
of one's motivation for the cause at hand, the ability of those
involved to handle the tasks and challenges that arise, the quality
of available protective equipment, of first aid and of medical
services, and by severai other conditions. In some instances of
hardship, such as warlike situations, factors like resilience come
more full y into play than under more ordinary circumstances. As
a consequence, the mental effects of moderate warfare, or of other
conflicts, may be surprisingly small. Mental health has even been
shown to improve during war (Ødegaard 1954, Eitinger 1990).
Uncertainty and Lack of Control
Two decisive intervening variables can be identified in most
stressful life events, namely experience of uncertainty and of lack
of control. Severe and particulary prolonged uncertainty and lack
or loss of control, i.e. inpredictability and inability to influence
one' s environment, strongly reinforce the effects of the stressor.
Psychic traumas are called forth in situations characterized by
severe helplessness and hopelessness.
Post-traumatic Stress
Disorder and Late Psychic Sequels
Stressful life events can be classified as
l acute and limited in time
2 occurring in series over an extended period of time
3 chronic intermittent stressors
4 chronic permanent stressors
While acute time-limited traumas typically produce immediate
reactions and entail a risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) during the first year, chronic stressors allow the indi vidual
to mobilize defences and adapt to new circumstances. In this case, if
the threat has been severe and constant, so-called late psychic sequels
may appear after a long period of time. TIms, typically, the final and
full-scale consequences of such experiences may only be known after
the stressful period is over and some years have passed.
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