Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction: A Way to Enhance Resilience in Traumatic Situations

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Trauma Studies
• Adolescent Development

Background:

• Traumatic events significantly impact resilience, especially in conflict settings.
• Understanding mediating factors is crucial for supporting youth in adversity.
• Adolescents in Palestine face varying levels of trauma exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the relationship between Basic Psychological Needs (BPN) satisfaction and resilience.
• To investigate the mediating role of BPN satisfaction in the context of trauma exposure.
• To examine these relationships in adolescents from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 837 adolescents (grades 8-10).
• Data collected via questionnaires assessing trauma, BPN satisfaction, and resilience.
• Participants recruited from the Gaza Strip (n=300) and the West Bank (n=537).

Main Results:

• Significant differences in trauma exposure were found between Gaza (0.61) and the West Bank (0.29).
• BPN satisfaction was positively associated with resilience in both regions.
• BPN satisfaction mediated trauma's negative impact on resilience in the West Bank and interacted positively with trauma in Gaza.

Conclusions:

• Satisfying BPN is vital for strengthening adolescent resilience.
• Intervention programs focused on BPN satisfaction can bolster resilience in youth exposed to trauma.
• Findings underscore the importance of psychological support for youth in conflict-affected areas.