Quality of life in a Palestinian population during the pandemic age: the role of mental health, fear of Covid-19, and vaccine hesitancy

Aim: Two years after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, extensive research has documented its profound impact on the quality of life and mental health of millions of people worldwide. However, there remains a need to explore the relationships between people’s mental health, their fear of Covid-19, and vaccine hesitancy, as well as their impact on populations living with marginalization, in poverty, and under military violence. The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between mental health, hesitancy to the vaccine, and fear of Covid-19 within the Palestinian population. Subject and methods: The study included a sample of 1122 participants, of which 772 (68.8%) were women, residing in the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and Israel. The Fear of Covid-19 Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, The Covid-19 Vaccines Acceptance scale, and the World Healh Organization Quality of Life were administered. Results: Our findings revealed an inverse correlation between participants’ quality of life and their fear of Covid-19. Additionally, higher levels of fear of Covid-19 were associated with increased levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion: The study provides valuable insight that can guide the development of interventions aimed at supporting the well-being and mental health of the Palestinian population.