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Updated: Jan 16, 2026

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
Adolescence under fire: a multi-method study of psychological vulnerability and resilience among adolescents impacted
Liann Haham1, Idan M Aderka1, Daniel S Pine2
1School of Psychological Sciences and the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
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 (Mage = 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 (MSCARED-c = 28.54, SD = 15.88) and trauma-related symptoms (MCPTCI = 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.
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