Mental Health Outcomes among Palestinian Women in the Context of Community Violence: The Moderating Role of Perceived Social Support and Self-Efficacy

There is a well-established body of knowledge on the impact of community violence exposure (ECV) on mental health (MH). Yet little is known about the protective role of individual and social factors on this association, particularly among women in ethnic minority groups. This cross-sectional study aims to fill this void by investigating the moderating roles of perceived self-efficacy and perceived social support on the association between ECV and poor MH among a sample of 377 Palestinian women. The findings indicate that ECV is a significant environmental risk factor for developing poor MH outcomes. However, enhancing social support spaces helps women to cope better in this context.