Unpacking resilience: exploring the link between dissociative responses and psychological resilience in war-affected Palestinians

TL;DR

The study explores how psychological resilience relates to dissociative responses in Palestinians affected by war, finding a surprising positive link.

Contribution

The study reveals a novel positive association between psychological resilience and peritraumatic dissociation in a war-affected population.

Findings

Resilience was significantly positively associated with peritraumatic dissociation (β=0.404, p < 0.001).

Females reported higher dissociation levels than males, and higher education was linked to greater resilience.

A history of mental illness predicted both higher dissociation and lower resilience.

Abstract

Peritraumatic dissociation (PD) is a psychological response to trauma involving disruptions in awareness, memory, and identity. While PD is associated with adverse outcomes such as PTSD, the role of resilience in shaping dissociative experiences remains underexplored, particularly in conflict-affected populations.

To examine the relationship between peritraumatic dissociation and psychological resilience among Palestinians exposed to war-related trauma.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 623 Palestinian participants from Gaza, the West Bank, and Israeli-controlled areas during the December 2024 Gaza-Israel war. Peritraumatic dissociation was assessed using the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire (PDEQ), and resilience was measured using the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10). Linear and multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess relationships and predictors.

Participants demonstrated moderate levels of both PD (M=28.31, SD=8.44) and resilience (M=32.38, SD=8.92). Regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between resilience and PD (β=0.404, p < 0.001). Females reported significantly higher PD levels than males, while higher education was associated with greater resilience. A history of mental illness predicted both higher dissociation and lower resilience.

Contrary to expectations, resilience was positively correlated with peritraumatic dissociation, suggesting a complex relationship between psychological endurance and acute dissociative responses. Rather than indicating an adaptive role for dissociation, the findings may reflect the intensity of trauma exposure among resilient individuals in conflict zones.

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