DIFI conducts study on impact of blockade on families in Qatar

Doha, Qatar: The Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), a member of Qatar Foundation, in collaboration with researchers from Qatar University, has conducted a study on ‘The Impact of Blockade on Families in Qatar’.

The study assessed the impact of the blockade that Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt imposed on Qatar on June 5, 2017, examining the unique experiences of the mixed-marriage families, in which one of the spouses is a native of one of the blockading Arabian Gulf countries, and relatives living in one of these countries.

The study concluded that the blockade has adversely impacted inter-family interactions and relationships, and has made the affected families more vulnerable to individual and collective trauma and psychological stresses. This has necessitated identifying the gaps in the services provided to the affected families and the interventions direly needed for bolstering the inter-family relationships and safeguarding family social, psychological, and material well-being.

Ms. Noor Al Malki Al-Jehani, Executive Director, DIFI, said: “The blockade has had unprecedented consequences not only on the Qatari families, but also on families where one of the spouses is a national of the blockading countries and lives in Qatar. The study has highlighted the various challenges that these families face and the different aspects of this crisis. It has also proposed some mechanisms that help families to overcome these challenges.”

Data for this study was collected from interviews with 22 adults - who belonged to mixed-marriage Qatari families, in which one of the spouses is a native of the blockading countries. These 22 participants included 11 males and 11 females (married and single) with or without children.

Two focus groups were conducted with single and married women. Individual interviews were conducted with each of the male participants. The study is based on the basic principles of the constructivist theory for directing the interviews, using thematic analysis of the interview and focus group data in order to identify its findings.

The study has identified seven types of challenges that these families have faced: They can be summarised as follows: social challenges, family fragmentation, instability, and family conflicts; psychological challenges, such as trauma, fear, anxiety, sadness, grief, and insecurity; educational challenges, which included cases where families were afraid that their children – who are nationals of any of the blockading countries – could not continue their studies in Qatar; health challenges; which include stress, its adverse impact on individuals’ health and the related expenses related; and financial challenges.

DIFI is a global policy and advocacy institute working to advance knowledge on Arab families through research, and promote evidence-based polices at the national, regional, and international levels. The institute has special consultative status with United Nations Economic and Social Council.

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Doha International Family Institute (DIFI)

The Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), was established in 2006. The Institute works to strengthen the family through the development and dissemination of high quality research on Arab families, encouraging knowledge exchange on issues relevant to the family and making the family a priority to policy makers through advocacy and outreach at the national, regional and international levels. Among the Institute’s most important initiatives are the Annual Conference on the Family; and the OSRA Research Grant in collaboration with the Qatar National Research Fund, an annual research grant which encourages research related to the Arab family and family policy. The Institute has special consultative status with United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

For more information on Doha International Family Institute, please visit www. Difi.org.qa

Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is a non-profit organization that supports Qatar on its journey to becoming a diversified and sustainable economy. QF strives to serve the people of Qatar and beyond by providing specialized programs across its innovation-focused ecosystem of education, science and research, and community development.

QF was founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Emir, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who shared the vision to provide Qatar with quality education. Today, QF’s world-class education system offers lifelong learning opportunities to community members as young as six months through to doctoral level, enabling graduates to thrive in a global environment and contribute to the nation’s development.

QF is also creating a multidisciplinary innovation hub in Qatar, where homegrown researchers are working to address local and global challenges. By promoting a culture of lifelong learning and fostering social engagement through programs that embody Qatari culture, QF is committed to empowering the local community and contributing to a better world for all.

For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and projects, visit http://www.qf.org.qa

© Press Release 2018