Ms. Fida Bader (Troodi), Prof. Noga Cohen, Dr. Joy Benatov, Dr. Dana Lassri
Wars are chronic stressors that often involve uncontrollable stress and intense negative emotions, which are particularly impactful for adolescents. The Israel-Hamas war that started on October 7th exposed adolescents to a range of stressors, including direct threats such as terrorist attacks, missiles, and displacement. Also, many adolescents were indirectly affected by the war through the media. As a result, anxiety and stress levels among Israeli adolescents increased, causing harm to mental health. This research examined the influence of internal and external risk and resilience factors among adolescents during the Israel-Hamas War, such as social support, school engagement, emotion regulation, and mentalizing. The findings highlight the importance of both internal and external risk and protective factors among adolescents exposed to war-related events. Understanding these factors may lead the way for the development of interventions that can mitigate the influence of stress on mental health and prevent the development of psychopathology.
