Multi-level human rights violations and adult well-being in the West Bank of Occupied Palestine: a cross sectional study
1
Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, Birzeit, Palestinian Territory, Occupied
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Human rights violations occur across multiple layers of daily life, including the family, community, governing institutions, and broader political structures, and may act as critical determinants of well-being. This study assessed the association between human rights violations and well-being among adults living in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian West Bank from a multi-level ecological perspective.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in 2022 among a representative sample of adults aged 18 years and older in the West Bank. A total of 1908 participants were included in the analysis. Well-being was measured using the WHO-5 well-being index. Human rights violations were measured using a locally developed and tested multi-level instrument measuring general violations and violations by specific perpetrators, including family, community, Palestinian Authority, and Israeli military occupation. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine associations between human rights violations and well-being.
RESULTS:
Overall, 39% of participants reported poor well-being based on the WHO-5 index. At least one human rights violation was reported by 60% of participants. Human rights violations were significantly associated with lower well-being (β =-2.34, p < 0.001). Violations by the family (β =-1.82, p < 0.001), community (β =-1.12, p = 0.027), Palestinian Authority (β =-0.85, p = 0.037), and Israeli military occupation (β =-1.47, p < 0.001) were all negatively associated with well-being scores. Gender-stratified analyses showed that women were more affected by family and occupation-related violations, while men were more affected by community and occupation-related violations.
CONCLUSIONS:
Human rights violations across multiple ecological levels were consistently associated with poorer well-being among adults in the West Bank. While many of these conditions are not readily amenable to change, integrated and cross-sectoral approaches are needed to support people living under these constraints, through legal protection, social support, and context-specific health services that mitigate harm and sustain well-being.
Human rights violations occur across multiple layers of daily life, including the family, community, governing institutions, and broader political structures, and may act as critical determinants of well-being. This study assessed the association between human rights violations and well-being among adults living in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian West Bank from a multi-level ecological perspective.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in 2022 among a representative sample of adults aged 18 years and older in the West Bank. A total of 1908 participants were included in the analysis. Well-being was measured using the WHO-5 well-being index. Human rights violations were measured using a locally developed and tested multi-level instrument measuring general violations and violations by specific perpetrators, including family, community, Palestinian Authority, and Israeli military occupation. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine associations between human rights violations and well-being.
RESULTS:
Overall, 39% of participants reported poor well-being based on the WHO-5 index. At least one human rights violation was reported by 60% of participants. Human rights violations were significantly associated with lower well-being (β =-2.34, p < 0.001). Violations by the family (β =-1.82, p < 0.001), community (β =-1.12, p = 0.027), Palestinian Authority (β =-0.85, p = 0.037), and Israeli military occupation (β =-1.47, p < 0.001) were all negatively associated with well-being scores. Gender-stratified analyses showed that women were more affected by family and occupation-related violations, while men were more affected by community and occupation-related violations.
CONCLUSIONS:
Human rights violations across multiple ecological levels were consistently associated with poorer well-being among adults in the West Bank. While many of these conditions are not readily amenable to change, integrated and cross-sectoral approaches are needed to support people living under these constraints, through legal protection, social support, and context-specific health services that mitigate harm and sustain well-being.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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