Visual Spatial and Executive Functions Disorders Among Palestinian Children Living Under Chronic Stress in Gaza

Abstract

 Background: Demonstrating particular neurocognitive impairments due to stressful circumstances among children have been detected. In physical conflict areas around the world, children face various traumatic stressful events and this cause many neurocognitive disorders as memory, attention, concentration, but less attention has been devoted to study the effects of stress on specific neurocognitive abilities as visual spatial and executive functions on conflict areas as Gaza strip. Objective: This study aims to determine the visual spatial and executive disorders among Palestinian children living under chronic stress in Gaza. Method: A survey design was used to achieve the research objectives. Cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample (N = 90), (M = 47, F = 37) of children from Gaza. Validated Clock drawing test was used to evaluate visual-spatial, executive functions. Results: Means and Standard Deviation were calculated in Clock Drawing tests. The results showed Clock Face Construction score is (11.47), Time Drawn to the Clock Hour, Half-hour and Minute scores are (4.71-4.89). All mean scores are in range of normative scores. T-test for two independent groups was used. The finding also pointed out that there are no significant differences between male and female, citizens and refugees in Clock Face Constructional mean and the total mean of the Time Drawn to the Clock Hour, and Time Drawn to the Clock Half-hour. Conclusion: Although, prevailing stress in Gaza, no visual spatial and executive disorders were recorded among Palestinian children. Key words: Visual spatial, Executive functions, Stress