Exposure to Threat of War and Terror, Political Attitudes, Stress, and Life Satisfaction Among Teenagers in Israel

• NCJ Number: 213840
• Journal: Journal of Adolescence Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2006 Pages: 165-176
• Author(s): Michal Shamai; Shaul Kimhi
• Date Published: April 2006
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the relationship between exposure to threat of war and terror, stress and life satisfaction, and political attitudes among Israeli teenagers in reaction to Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon.

Abstract

Main findings indicated significant differences between teenagers from the northern area (close to the Israeli-Lebanese border) and teenagers from the central area (distant from the border) in terms of political attitude, level of stress, and life satisfaction. As expected, teenagers living in close proximity to the border, and thus in close proximity to the threat of war, reported less willingness to accept political compromise, higher levels of stress, and lower levels of life satisfaction. Results also indicate that political attitude mediates between level of threat and well-being (a measure of both stress and life satisfaction), meaning that even teenagers living in close proximity to the threat of war can report high levels of well-being if they espouse political attitudes tolerant of compromise. The findings suggest that mental health practitioners treating teenagers in situations of war and terror should be alerted to the impact of political attitude on the well-being of teenagers. Participants were 419 teenagers in 10th and 11th grades from 4 schools, 3 located in the northern part of Israel, which is directly exposed to the threat of attacks and infiltration, and 1 located in the central region of the country away from the immediate threat. Participants completed a questionnaire during class time that measured political attitudes concerning withdrawal from Lebanon and compromise with Lebanon, levels of stress, and levels of life satisfaction. Statistical analyses of the data included the calculation of Pearson correlations and two-step hierarchical regressions. This study is considered preliminary and should be followed up with studies that use measurement tools validated and applicable to various cultural contexts of political discord. Tables, figure, footnotes, references