Pathways to Resilience: The Roles of Religiosity, Perceived Stress, and Coping Strategies among Female Arab Adolescents in Israel

Abstract

Abstract
This study examined the roles of religiosity, perceived stress, and coping strategies in predicting psychological resilience among female Arab adolescents in Israel. The sample included 475 female Arab adolescents who completed an anonymous online questionnaire during the 2026 school year. Measures assessed problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, avoidant coping, perceived stress, religiosity, and psychological resilience. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations and multiple regression analysis. Results showed that perceived stress was negatively associated with psychological resilience, whereas problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and religiosity were positively associated with resilience. The regression model significantly predicted psychological resilience, explaining 30.2% of the variance. Perceived stress was the strongest negative predictor, while problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and religiosity were significant positive predictors. Avoidant coping did not significantly predict resilience in the regression model. These findings suggest that psychological resilience among female Arab adolescents in Israel is shaped by both risk and protective factors, highlighting the importance of reducing perceived stress and strengthening adaptive coping and religiosity-based resources.