The functional impact of middle Eastern political conflict on mental health and coping behaviors among Egyptian citizens: cross sectional study

Background Prolonged political conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean Region has led to widespread instability, with mental health concerns extending outside directly affected populations. Aim This study investigates the psychological impact of regional conflict on non-displaced civilians in Egypt, a conflict-neighboring country. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 394 Egyptian adults utilizing validated Arabic versions of the PHQ-9 (depression), GAD-7 (anxiety), PSS-10 (perceived stress), and BRCS (resilient coping). Participants also responded to a single-item measure evaluating the extent to which political conflict interrupted their daily functioning. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and comparisons across conflict-impact categories. Results Respondents reporting greater functional disruption from regional conflict displayed significantly higher depression, anxiety, and stress scores ( p < 0.01; η² = 0.13–0.17) and lower resilient coping ( p < 0.05; η² = 0.02). The highest burden appeared among participants aged 18–25 and those reporting “extreme difficulty.” Females and frequent social media users exhibited greater psychological distress. Non-overlapping 95% CIs supported the robustness and clinical relevance of group differences. Conclusions The findings highlight civilians’ psychological vulnerability in politically unstable yet non-war contexts. Indirect conflict exposure, through media, cultural ties, or regional proximity, adversely affects mental health, underscoring the need for targeted screening and resilience-building programs, particularly for youth and digitally active groups.