title: Does self-complexity moderate the effects of exposure to political violence for adolescents?
abstract: This study examined the moderating role of self-complexity (SC) on well-being (WB) and psychopathology among Israeli adolescents exposed to the Second Lebanon War (2006). Adolescents (N=584, mean age 16.41) completed a SC measure, Political and Negative Life Events (NLE) scales, Brief Symptom Inventory and Satisfaction with Life Scale. The theoretical model analyzed the function of SC as a moderator of exposure effects to political life events (PLE), while controlling for general NLE. Results corroborated the model with SC moderating the effects of the war-related PLE. Adolescents with low SC are at risk for damaged WB and psychiatric consequences from political violence exposure. This opens a diagnostic avenue for identification of at-risk adolescents in this socio-political context toward whom clinical programs should be directed.
authors.affiliation: a School of Psychological Sciences , Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Slone
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roziner
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007585:Jews / Q000523:psychology*; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011057:Politics; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011594:Psychometrics; D011599:Psychopathology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D014857:Warfare