Life orientation, hope, and well-being during wartime: a comparative models study of the Arab and Jewish societies in Israel

Background: During times of war and violent conflict, populations endure profound psychological pressures. These challenging circumstances highlight how personal attributes, particularly one’s life orientation and sense of hope, can fundamentally shape an individual’s psychological resilience and well-being. Aims: This cross-sectional quantitative study examined differences in life orientation, agency, pathways, and well-being, and explored their mediating relationships between Jewish and Arab societies in Israel during the first 2 months of the 7/10 war. Methods: A total of 292 adults residing in Israel, self-identifying as either Arab or Jewish, and having encountered war times participated. Data were collected through an online questionnaire including the Dispositional Hope Scale (DHS), Life Orientation Test, General Well-being Measure, and background characteristics, analyzed using PROCESS. Results: The Arab minority reported higher levels of pathways, agency, and well-being compared to the Jewish majority. Pathways and agency showed the strongest positive relationship, supporting their complementary roles in forming hope. Life orientation demonstrated moderate positive connections with pathways and agency. While life orientation positively influenced pathways and agency, only agency significantly predicted well-being when controlling for life orientation. Conclusions: The study reveals psychological strengths building resilience in minority groups during armed conflicts, emphasizing hope agency’s critical role in psychological fortitude.