Psychological impact of the war on Gaza among Palestinians and Jordanians using Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R)

Abstract Background The war on Gaza has taken a heavy emotional burden on Palestinians and has also affected many Jordanians who feel closely connected through ties and constant exposure to the conflict. Understanding these psychological effects helps highlight the true human cost of the conflict and the need for meaningful support. Objective This study aims to evaluate the psychological impact of the Gaza war on Palestinians and Jordanians and to examine the levels of trauma-related psychological distress and associated factors. Methods From October 2023 to April 2024, a descriptive cross-sectional survey was implemented utilizing a web-based questionnaire distributed over social media platforms. The survey comprised socio-demographic questions and the Arabic version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). In total, 977 valid responses were included in the final analysis (87.9% Jordanians, 12.1% Palestinians). Results The mean IES-R score was 46.18 ± 9.89, indicating a severe psychological impact, with 75.3% of participants reporting significant distress (IES- R ≥ 37). Palestinians reported a higher prevalence of severe distress (85.6%) while Jordanians reported a rate of 73.9%. Factors significantly associated with severe distress included female gender, residence in Palestine, a lack of prior exposure to war events, and the need for psychological support (all p < 0.05). These findings illustrate the significant psychological toll of the conflict and highlight vulnerable subgroups requiring targeted mental health interventions. Conclusion The Gaza conflict has caused enormous psychological distress for both Jordanians and Palestinians. Women are affected more than men by war due to lack of prior exposure. People suffering from severe distress must have access to psychological support services and this raises the need for availability of mental health service in conflict-affected areas. Researchers who study long-term psychological impacts of war need to identify resilience indicators in order to develop the best possible support strategies.