War exposure, resource loss, and mental health: A study of at-risk Israeli young adults in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks and war.

Abstract

War and crisis pose serious threats to the mental health of young adults, a group already navigating complex developmental transitions. For those considered at risk, the psychological toll may be even greater due to preexisting vulnerabilities and limited access to support. In this study, we examined the association between war exposure and mental health of Israeli at-risk young adults following the October 7, 2023, attacks and subsequent war. Specifically, drawing on conservation of resources theory, we tested a theoretically informed mediation model in which resource loss was hypothesized to account for the association between war exposure and mental health while also assessing the protective roles of psychological resilience and social support. The sample included 537 at-risk young adults (ages 18-26 years) enrolled in Israel's national program for at-risk young adults. Structural equation modeling showed that war exposure was associated with poorer mental health both directly and indirectly through resource loss. Higher levels of psychological resilience and social support were linked to better mental health, with psychological resilience also moderating the relation between resource loss and mental health. These findings underscore the potential importance of both internal and external resources in understanding the adjustment to war-related stress. The findings may have implications for trauma-informed, strength-based interventions that prevent resource depletion and reinforce support systems for vulnerable youth during times of crisis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).