Adolescent Coping and Identity Development During the 'Swords of Iron' War: Lived Experiences of Adolescents and Perspectives of Their Parents.

Adolescence is a critical developmental stage involving identity formation and increasing autonomy, both of which may be disrupted by acute external stressors. This qualitative study explored how adolescents coped with the psychological strain of war while undergoing normative developmental transitions during the 2023 Swords of Iron war in Israel. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 Israeli-Jewish adolescent-parent dyads, offering a dyadic perspective on adolescent coping as well as parental perceptions and expectations. Thematic analysis revealed two overarching themes: The first concerned the intensification of developmental demands under stress, including premature shifts toward adulthood, fluctuating autonomy shaped by parental anxiety and wartime constraints, future-oriented identity reappraisal, as well as ambivalence toward military service as a civic responsibility. The second theme focused on coping strategies, which spanned a dynamic spectrum, ranging from emotional detachment through protective 'bubbles' to active civic engagement that fostered and sustained agency and personal meaning. Many adolescents oscillated between these modes, indicating adaptive responses to a rapidly changing reality. These findings highlight the interplay between developmental processes and stress regulation in adolescents facing an armed conflict. Rather than favouring a singular specific coping style, most adolescents benefited from fluid transitions between distancing and engagement. This study underscores the importance of flexible, developmentally sensitive interventions that support adolescents' psychological resilience during large-scale crises and catastrophes. Implications are discussed for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers working in contexts of trauma and conflict, as well as youth mental health and social adjustment.