Exploring the psychological effects of war on indirectly affected groups: a cross-sectional study on residents of Jordan

The Gaza War has significantly escalated conflict and humanitarian crises in the Gaza Strip, causing profound human suffering and psychological impact. This study investigates the mental health of residents of Jordan, examining anxiety and depression levels, sociodemographic factors, and resilience mechanisms to understand the psychological resilience of communities facing conflict-related stressors. This cross-sectional study used a convenience sampling method to collect data from Jordanian residents over 18 years of age. An online questionnaire shared on social media platforms was used, the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) was used to measure anxiety and depression, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) 4-item questionnaire was used to measure perceived stress, and the Brief Resilience Scale was used to measure population resilience. A total of 1,664 participants were included in the study. The mean stress score was reported as 8.72 (SD +/-2.342). Stress, anxiety, and depression were significantly associated with age and sex, with younger populations and female participants reporting higher stress scores. Among the sample, 65.0% of individuals displayed both anxiety and depression indicators, with 25.9% exhibiting severe, 66.4% exhibiting moderate and 33.6% exhibiting mild level. A comprehensive, multi-institutional approach is needed to increase awareness and screening of mental health conditions.