Emerging Adults in Wartime: The Role of Coping Activity Behaviors, Resilience, and Fear in Mitigating Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) Symptoms

The Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Iron Swords War have profoundly affected emerging adults. The present study examined associations between coping behaviors (active vs. passive) and the intensity of active behaviors, and secondary traumatic stress (STS) symptoms. In addition, it explored indirect associations between coping behaviors and STS symptoms (intrusion, avoidance, and arousal) through resilience and fear. A total of 525 participants aged 18–30 completed an online survey during the first months of the war. Active coping was associated with lower fear, higher resilience, and lower STS symptoms compared to passive coping. Path analyses further indicated indirect associations between coping behaviors and STS through fear and resilience, with fear consistently associated with all STS symptoms, whereas resilience was primarily associated with avoidance and arousal. The findings contribute to understanding coping processes under prolonged wartime stress and highlight implications for targeted mental health interventions for emerging adults.