Psychological responses to political hostility: a study on aggression, bullying, and well-being in Qatar.

In 2017, the Gulf crisis led to a blockade that severely restricted Qatar's air, land, and sea access. This political crisis had far-reaching consequences, particularly affecting cross-national families and children. This qualitative analysis explores the effects of the blockade's political instability on individuals and families, specifically for Qatari citizens married to non-Qatari spouses and their cross-national children. Applying the General Aggression Model and Social Learning Theory, we interviewed 24 individuals residing in Qatar from nations directly affected by the crisis (Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates). Two main themes emerged: first, the characteristics of aggressive and bullying behaviour, and second, the impacts on the well-being of cross-national families. The results showed that Qatari women and their children suffered disproportionately due to gender-based citizenship rights issues. The impacts on their well-being included heightened anxiety, depression, feelings of danger, uncertainty, and division within individuals, families, and communities. Recommendations include increasing collaborative efforts between governments, educational institutions, and community-based organizations, which are crucial to addressing aggressive and bullying behaviour across all age groups fostering a more harmonious and resilient society.

Mental health issues is common, resiliency is rare: Qataris and residents' experiences with distress, traumatic symptoms, and coping during the blockade.

Many people feel vulnerable and uncertain about their future during a political crisis or political instability. Nonetheless, people may choose different coping strategies, making some more resilient and others more vulnerable to mental health issues. Added to the stress caused by these political factors is that social media has become the only source of information, including intolerance, hate speech, and bigotry. Therefore, reactive strategies to traumatic events and resiliency are essential components in addressing the affected population's stress and mental health issues. Although much attention has been paid to the political blockade imposed on Qatar in 2017, little emphasis has been placed on its impact on the affected people's mental health, coping strategies, and resiliency. The study explores Qatari citizens' mental health, resilience, distress, traumatic symptoms, and coping in the context of the blockade. This study fills the knowledge gap in this area by using a mixed-method approach with 443 online surveys and 23 face-to-face interviews. Quantitative data shows women scored higher on distress than men (17.37 v 9.13, p = .009), but men scored higher on resiliency (73.63 v 68.19, p = .009). Qualitative data supported these findings. The findings will lay the foundation for clinical trials and social interventions to provide better mental health services to Qatari families directly affected by the blockade and inform mental health providers and policymakers about stress, coping strategies, and resilience during this crisis.

Gendered Citizenship, Inequality, and Well-Being: The Experience of Cross-National Families in Qatar during the Gulf Cooperation Council Crisis (2017-2021).

This study explores the impact of gendered citizenship on the well-being of cross-national families following the political blockade imposed on Qatar in 2017. More specifically, it examines how these families, women, and children face challenges related to their lives, well-being, and rights. Twenty-three face-to-face interviews were conducted with Qatari and non-Qatari women and men married to non-Qatari spouses residing in Qatar. The study's findings revealed that Qatari women with non-Qatari husbands did not enjoy the benefits of full citizenship, further undermining their psychological well-being and their socioeconomic and legal rights. Additionally, children born before or during the blockade have become stateless and undocumented, which jeopardizes their mental and physical well-being and the prospects of their parents' economic advancement. This study contributes to the conceptualization of and debate on gender citizenship rules and policies, which can exclude these women and children and deny them the recognition and rights they deserve. Since ensuring full citizenship rights is crucial for people's well-being, increasing gender equality and reforming Qatar's existing citizenship policies would benefit both groups and provide social justice for all.