A Qualitative Study of the Psychosocial Impact of Political Imprisonment on Palestinian Families

This study examines the psychosocial and material impact of political imprisonment by the Israeli occupation on Palestinian families in Ramallah and its surrounding areas. A decolonial and liberation psychology lens is used to understand the everyday disruptions, emotional burdens, and shifting familial roles that emerge following the incarceration of a family member in the Palestinian sociopolitical context. The research draws on data from four interactive focus groups with children and siblings of political prisoners, alongside eight in-depth interviews with wives of political prisoners who are also primary caregivers. The thematic analysis highlights the intricate interplay of struggle and strength in the lives of children and mothers affected by political imprisonment. Their experiences are marked by grief, fear, and instability, yet also by resilience, pride, and a deep sense of responsibility. Children navigate abrupt shifts in daily life, responsibilities, and emotional security, while mothers balance emotional strain with the demands of caregiving and provision. The complexity of the results underscores the need for a psychological framework grounded in Palestinian socio-political realities—one that goes beyond pathologization and honors both the pain and the power of collective endurance and solidarity. Moreover, the research highlights a significant gap between the needs of affected families and the capacity of formal institutions to address them, with support frequently emerging from familial and community networks. Therefore, it calls for sustained, holistic, and community-based interventions that are rooted in the socio-political realities of the Palestinian society and that affirm the rights and agency of both children and mothers dealing with the consequences of political violence related to living under occupation and political imprisonment.

This study examines the psychosocial and material impact of political imprisonment by the Israeli occupation on Palestinian families in Ramallah and its surrounding areas. A decolonial and liberation psychology lens is used to understand the everyday disruptions, emotional burdens, and shifting familial roles that emerge following the incarceration of a family member in the Palestinian sociopolitical context. The research draws on data from four interactive focus groups with children and siblings of political prisoners, alongside eight in-depth interviews with wives of political prisoners who are also primary caregivers. The thematic analysis highlights the intricate interplay of struggle and strength in the lives of children and mothers affected by political imprisonment. Their experiences are marked by grief, fear, and instability, yet also by resilience, pride, and a deep sense of responsibility. Children navigate abrupt shifts in daily life, responsibilities, and emotional security, while mothers balance emotional strain with the demands of caregiving and provision. The complexity of the results underscores the need for a psychological framework grounded in Palestinian socio-political realities, one that goes beyond pathologization and honors both the pain and the power of collective endurance and resilience. Moreover, the research highlights a significant gap between the needs of affected families and the capacity of formal institutions to address them, with support frequently emerging from familial and community networks. Therefore, it calls for sustained, holistic, and community-based interventions that are rooted in the socio-political realities of the Palestinian society and that affirm the rights and agency of both children and mothers dealing with the consequences of political violence related to living under occupation and political imprisonment.