A comparative study of resilience, coping and psychological well-being among Jewish and Arab students in Jerusalem during the October 7 War

This cross-sectional study, conducted at a higher education institution in Jerusalem, Israel, in 2023 during the October 7 War, compared resilience, coping strategies and psychological well-being of 275 Jewish and Arab students (89% women). Participants completed the Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), an adapted version of the Coping Strategies Scale and a modified version of the Reynolds Adjustment Screening Inventory validated for use with young adults (RAASI). Data were analyzed using ANCOVA and MANOVA. Results reveal no significant differences in resilience between groups. Arab students relied significantly more on problem-focused coping strategies than Jewish students. However, no group differences were found in emotion-focused coping. Regarding psychological well-being, Jewish students reported higher levels of anger control problems and emotional distress compared to Arab students, while Arab students reported higher negative self-perceptions. All between-group differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05) with small effect sizes. The findings underscore the need for higher education institutions to implement culturally sensitive support systems that address the diverse needs of students in conflict zones. This study offers actionable insights for enhancing student support during ongoing warfare.