YOUTH IN CRISIS - THE WELL-BEING OF MIDDLE-EASTERN YOUTH AND ADOLESCENTS DURING WAR AND PEACE

This study reports data of psychological well-being and self-esteem of Gaza Palestinian, Israeli Bedouin Arab, and Israeli Jewish adolescent s during the time shortly before and after the signing of the Israeli- Palestinian Autonomy Agreement. The study is a partial follow-lip to p revious research examining the impact of violence, warlike conditions, and extreme social change on the mental health adjustment of adolesce nts of this region. Results of the Derogatis Symptom Checklist, revise d and Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory showed the following: (a) psyc hopathology was significantly higher among Gaza youth, while Israeli J ewish and Bedouin youth showed lower levels; (b) youth from Caza had t he lowest levels of self-esteem, while there were no differences betwe en Israeli Jewish and Bedouin youth; and (c) despite the long interval that had elapsed between the first (amid the Intifada) and second adm inistrations (subsequent to the Oslo accords) of the measures, and the changing conditions, there was minimal evidence of change in levels o f distress.