Adolescence under fire: a multi-method study of psychological vulnerability and resilience among adolescents impacted by war

Background: Given the long-term negative impact of exposure to military conflict, identifying its immediate psychological effects is crucial to develop prevention and intervention approaches, especially in adolescents, a group particularly vulnerable to mental health challenges. Methods: We examined 198 war-exposed Israeli adolescents (M_age = 16.35 years; 131 females, 65 males), 1–3 months into the Israel–Hamas war (2023), using a multi-method approach combining mental health questionnaires with week-long momentary sampling throughout the day and nightly diary measures. We focused on risk and protective factors affecting mental health. Results: Most adolescents reported clinical levels of anxiety (M_SCARED-c = 28.54, SD = 15.88) and trauma-related symptoms (M_CPTCI = 46.78, SD = 15.61). Female gender, increased tiredness, and avoidant coping strategies constituted risk factors for lower psychological well-being; in-person social interaction and emotional and problem-focused coping strategies represented resilience factors. Conclusions: By providing comprehensive information on risk and protective factors, this study informs the development of targeted prevention and intervention approaches to support adolescent well-being in times of extreme stress.