Psychological Capital and Subjective Well-Being Among University Students During Prolonged Armed Conflict: Examining the Civilian Front and Displacement in Israel

Abstract

This study examined relations between psychological capital, subjective well-being, and anxiety among students during the Israeli national crisis following the events of October 7, 2023. The sample comprised 310 students, including evacuated ( n = 147) and non-evacuated participants ( n = 163). We found that the psychological capital was positively associated with subjective well-being and negatively associated with anxiety, while subjective well-being mediated this relationship. Evacuation status moderated the psychological capital–subjective well-being link, with stronger effects observed among evacuated students. Non-evacuated students exhibited higher psychological capital and subjective well-being and lower anxiety than their evacuated peers, underscoring the psychological toll of displacement. The findings confirm the psychological capital’s role as a protective resource and the role of subjective well-being as a mediator, translating internal strengths into emotional stability. The study contributes to the military-and-society literature by examining how a large-scale armed conflict and the resulting civilian evacuation shape psychological adaptation among young adults.