War exposure and mental health in Sudanese medical students: the roles of psychological flexibility and self-esteem

War exposure was associated with increased depression and anxiety, though it did not significantly alter psychological inflexibility or self-esteem. These psychological traits were independently associated with mental health outcomes, suggesting their role as key vulnerability factors. Strengthening resilience and self-worth-through interventions that enhance emotional regulation and coping-may reduce the psychological burden of conflict. Limitations include the cross-sectional design and sampling from a single institution.