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Imprisoned Husbands: Palestinian Wives and Experiences of Difficulties

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Abstract

This study aimed to investigate difficulties experienced by the wives of Palestinian men arrested and held in Israeli prisons. 16 captives’ wives were interviewed using a semi-structured interview to provide them with a greater opportunity to speak about their experiences. Three main research questions were discussed; community difficulties, social support, and coping strategies. A thematic analysis was used throughout the interviews. We concluded that in addition to the stress of being separated from their husbands, the frustrating visitation process to prison and the ongoing political conflict, the wives expressed a frustrating social network characterized by constant interferences in their personal lives and the choices they make. Most women expressed a lack in psychosocial support given through governmental and non-governmental organizations; in addition they expressed a need for that kind of support. Coping strategies ranged from religious, acceptance, distraction, to planning strategies.

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Notes

  1. Decency can mean different things in different cultures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Group Interpersonal, Discursive and Narrative Studies (IDNS), Centre for Children in Vulnerable Situations (CCVS), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    Amer Shehadeh, Sama Dawani & Gerrit Loots

  2. Department of Clinical and Lifespan Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    Amer Shehadeh, Sama Dawani & Gerrit Loots

  3. Ministry of Education, Directorate of Education, Bethlehem, Palestine

    Amer Shehadeh

  4. Department of Social and Behavioral Science, Birzeit University, Birzeit, Palestine

    Sama Dawani

  5. Master in Linguistics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    Mohammed Saed

  6. Department of Social Welfare Studies & Centre for Children in Vulnerable Situations, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Ilse Derluyn

  7. Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo” La Paz Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias del Compartamiento (IICC), La Paz, Bolivia

    Gerrit Loots

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  1. Amer Shehadeh
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  2. Sama Dawani
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  3. Mohammed Saed
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  4. Ilse Derluyn
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  5. Gerrit Loots
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Correspondence to Amer Shehadeh.

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Shehadeh, A., Dawani, S., Saed, M. et al. Imprisoned Husbands: Palestinian Wives and Experiences of Difficulties. Community Ment Health J 52, 118–125 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9962-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9962-5

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