Levin Yafit, Bachem Rahel, Leshem Elazar, Ben-Ezra Menachem, Robinson Martin, Hamama-Raz Yaira
Ariel University, School of Social Work, Ariel, Israel; Ariel University, School of Education, Ariel, Israel.
Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
J Affect Disord. 2025 Jul 15;381:584-591. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.04.004. Epub 2025 Apr 9.
Civil unrest related to political change can have detrimental effects on the mental health of the population. This study investigated probable Adjustment Disorder (AjD) among individuals with different attitudes in the context of a highly controversial judicial reform in Israel. The relationships between AjD symptoms across three groups were explored: those who support the proposed changes, others who oppose them, and those who adopt a neutral stance.
This study was conducted with a nationally representative sample of Israeli adults (n = 1999). A Symptoms Network analysis of AjD was performed using the International Adjustment Disorder Questionnaire, examining groups with different levels of social unrest engagement.
Participants actively opposing the judicial reform reported higher levels of probable AjD compared to neutral participants and those in favor of the reform. Similarly, neutral participants reported higher levels of probable AjD than those in favor of the reform. The network structure of AjD was similar across the three groups. Item five ("difficult to relax/feel calm since the social unrest") was the node with the highest strength centrality in all networks.
This study utilized cross-sectional methodology and self-report measures.
Mental health needs should be actively addressed by policymakers and mental health professionals during social unrest, regardless of political stance. The high rates of probable AjD and the similarity in the structure of AjD across the groups suggest common underlying mechanisms and a significant adjustment crisis in a large portion of the population following social unrest.
与政治变革相关的社会动荡会对民众的心理健康产生不利影响。本研究在以色列一项极具争议的司法改革背景下，调查了不同态度个体中可能存在的适应障碍（AjD）。探讨了三组人群中AjD症状之间的关系：支持提议变革的人群、反对变革的人群以及持中立立场的人群。
本研究以具有全国代表性的以色列成年人样本（n = 1999）为对象。使用国际适应障碍问卷对AjD进行症状网络分析，研究不同社会动荡参与程度的群体。
与中立参与者和支持改革的参与者相比，积极反对司法改革的参与者报告的可能患AjD的水平更高。同样，中立参与者报告的可能患AjD的水平高于支持改革的参与者。三组人群中AjD的网络结构相似。条目五（“自社会动荡以来难以放松/感到平静”）是所有网络中强度中心性最高的节点。
本研究采用横断面研究方法和自我报告测量方法。
在社会动荡期间，政策制定者和心理健康专业人员应积极关注心理健康需求，无论政治立场如何。可能患AjD的高比率以及各组中AjD结构的相似性表明存在共同的潜在机制，且社会动荡后很大一部分人群面临重大的适应危机。
