title: Well-being and associated factors among adults in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The World Health Organization (WHO) incorporated well-being into its definition of health in 1948. The significance given to this concept is due to its role in the assessment of people's quality of life and health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the WHO Well-being Index, we estimated well-being among adults and identified selected associated factors in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) using data obtained from the National Time Use Survey conducted by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) 2012-2013 on a representative sample of persons living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted among participants 18 years old and above. Multivariate analysis (Regression) was performed with factors found significant in cross-tabulations, using SPSS® version 20.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 33.8 % (2395) of respondents reported low levels of well-being (ill-being). Neither age, nor sex, nor region were found significant in regression analysis. People who were married, working 15 h or more, with a higher standard of living, who reported participating in community, cultural, and social events, or in religious activities reported high levels of well-being. Those who reported regularly following the mass media, or living in Palestinian refugee camps reported low levels of wellbeing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, about one-third of adult Palestinians reported low levels of well-being (ill-being), a finding which in itself requires attention. Marriage, employment, high living standards, community participation, and religious activities were found to be protective against ill-being. Further investigations are required to determine additional causes of ill-being in the oPt, taking into consideration the possible effects of chronic exposure to political violence on subjective well-being.
authors: , Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine. nouhh@hotmail.com.
authors: Nouh
authors: N
authors: Harsha
authors: UNRWA, Birzeit, Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine.
authors: Luay
authors: L
authors: Ziq
authors: Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine.
authors: Rula
authors: R
authors: Ghandour
authors: Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine. rita@birzeit.edu.
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Giacaman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018912:Arabs / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008877:Middle East; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012036:Refugees; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D000067453:War Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Community participation; Palestine; Religious activities; Standard of living; Well-being