53. Qouta, S. and El Sarraj, E. Level of Anxiety in Gaza Before and After the Intifada. Gaza: Gaza Community Mental Health Program, 1992: 6 pp.

A study was conducted to assess differences in level of anxiety before and after the Intifada. Baseline data was used from a study conducted in 1984 that measured the anxiety level among four groups: camp refugees, town refugees, resettled refugees, and the citizens in Gaza. In that study, results indicated a higher level of stress among camp refugees. In the current study, a sample of 160 people (80 males, 80 females) was randomly selected to represent the four groups. Each participant was administered the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale (TMAS) which consists of 50 questions describing a certain behavior or symptom. To the authors' surprise, results indicated that among the three refugee groups there were no significant differences in levels of anxiety before and after the Intifada. However, the citizens of Gaza experienced a significant increase in anxiety compared with the similar group in 1984. This change was attributed to the fact that refugees who were in the front lines of the uprising were better able to vent their frustrations. The citizens of Gaza were unable to do this, thereby increasing their anxiety.