Emotional Reactions and Coping Resources Among Bedouin Arab Adolescents in the Negev Following Home Demolitions

The demolition of houses is becoming increasingly common in Bedouin villages in the Negev (southern Israel). In 2016, 1158 houses were demolished.

This research examined coping resources and emotional reactions among Bedouin adolescents in the Negev against the background of the demolition of homes in Bedouin villages. Specifically, we examined how coping resources explain emotional reactions to stress among adolescents from recognized villages and unrecognized villages. The conceptual framework of this research is based on Antonovsky’s salutogenic theory, which suggests examining factors that help people to cope with stressful situations

Nine hundred twenty six adolescents participated in the study, which was carried out during the period 2010-2011. (49%) lived in unrecognized villages. Participants filled out a questionnaire that assessed demographic variables, coping resources (and emotional reactions The findings showed that emotional reactions were more intense among the adolescents from unrecognized villages. Personal sense of coherence helped to mitigate emotional reactions among the adolescents from recognized villages. However, among the adolescents from unrecognized villages, a stronger sense of coherence was linked to stronger emotional reactions.

These findings have important implications for understanding the role of coping among youth from different cultural groups.

Keywords: adolescents, home demolition, salutogenesis, coping