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Adolescence is a critical period of personal and social development, particularly for Arab-Palestinian adolescents in Israel, whose lives are shaped by persistent political conflict and marginalization, this period becomes particularly challenging. The war that began on October 7, 2023 intensified these challenges, exposing adolescents to increased violence, fear, and social instability. This qualitative study investigated the impact of the October 7 war on Arab-Palestinian adolescents in Israel based on six focus groups involving 34 participants aged 12-18. The findings reveal two central themes: first, the experience of living under ongoing war conditions, which sharpened the adolescents' awareness of their fragile and contested citizenship status; and second, the emotional, social, and educational consequences of being part of a marginalized national minority during a time of crisis. Participants reported heightened fear and insecurity, reduced academic performance, tensions within the Arab community, and increased hostility from the Jewish majority. These experiences are analyzed through the lens of persistent traumatic stress theory, offering insight into the compounded impact of political violence on minority adolescents. By foregrounding the voices of Arab-Palestinian youth, this study contributed to trauma literature in conflict zones by highlighting the lived experiences of a marginalized minority within the conflict state itself. It extends the theory of persistent trauma to this unique context and offers practical recommendations for culturally and politically sensitive interventions that address the compounded effects of exclusion, identity threat, and political violence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
In the present study, we examined psychological distress, specifically symptoms of depression and anxiety, among mothers of children aged 0-17 years during a prolonged period of war and armed conflict. Guided by Hobfoll's conservation of resources theory, we focused on personal characteristics and resources, exploring how intolerance of uncertainty, parental self-efficacy, and optimism predicted mothers' psychological distress. The study included 403 Israeli mothers who, over the past 2 years, experienced ongoing exposure to geopolitical violence and security threats, including the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, the Swords of Iron War, and the recent 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel. Participants completed online self-report questionnaires assessing anxiety, depression, intolerance of uncertainty, parental self-efficacy, and optimism. Results revealed that intolerance of uncertainty was indirectly linked to psychological distress through its effects on parental self-efficacy and optimism, highlighting the interconnected roles of these internal resources in shaping mothers' mental health during prolonged periods of stress and uncertainty. These findings underscore the importance of fostering parental self-efficacy and optimism to buffer the negative impact of intolerance of uncertainty on psychological distress during ongoing conflict. Findings are discussed in the context of conservation of resources theory, with implications for interventions that are likely applicable across cultures exposed to chronic threat and uncertainty. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Youth of color experiencing low-income in the United States face multiple human rights violations: overpolicing, community violence, racial discrimination, and insufficient voice in the programs and policies that impact their current and future lives. To accomplish transitional justice, participatory processes are needed that elicit youths' cultural strengths and wisdom about themselves, their social conditions, services they find helpful, and why those services are helpful. This study highlights findings from a photovoice that elicited youths' perspectives about a cross-age mentoring out-of-school-program. Responding to "What does mentoring mean to you?" 147 youth took photographs in their communities and wrote narratives about the photographs' meanings. The research team, including youth coresearchers, conducted a thematic and content analysis of the participants' narratives. Youth were highly articulate about the specific program elements that would uplift their peers, and why those elements are impactful. Through qualitative analysis of youths' photographs and narratives, this study reveals the youths' "folk theories" about their program's mechanism of action. Youth described mentoring as a nurturing family, friendship, community, care, love, acceptance, trust, communication, and vulnerability. They thoughtfully described culturally relevant "folk theories" of how cross-age mentoring fosters children's development, counteracting stressful high-burden contexts. Analyzing youths' metaphors for the nurturing process in cross-age mentoring indicated how much they valued caring for each other, creativity, and supporting positive life trajectories for each other while overcoming poverty and discrimination. When offered opportunities for creative self-expression such as photovoice, youth can be insightful partners in resisting the downward pull of human rights violations and theorize interventions and nurturing processes that develop their resilience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Both psychotic symptoms (i.e., delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech/behavior, reduced emotional expression, social withdrawal, lack of motivation) and intimate partner violence (IPV; i.e., abuse by a current or former partner or spouse) disproportionately affect African American women who face increased mortality and morbidity associated with IPV due to delayed help-seeking. However, little research has focused on the association between these two concerns. Moreover, there is a dearth of information about mediators of the psychotic symptoms-IPV exposure link and virtually no exploration of this link among African American women. The current cross-sectional investigation using secondary self-report data from a clinical sample of 208 African American women ages 18-59 with a prior suicide attempt used multiple regression to examine whether there is an association between psychotic symptoms and three types of IPV (controlling, nonphysical, and physical abuse). Next, it explored whether two forms of self-esteem (based on self-perceptions and others' perceptions) mediated the psychotic symptoms-IPV exposure link. Findings supported an association between psychotic symptoms and exposure to all three forms of IPV. Neither form of self-esteem was a mediator in the psychotic symptoms-physical abuse relation. Further, while self-esteem based on self-perceptions did not mediate the psychotic symptoms-controlling behaviors link nor the psychotic symptoms-nonphysical abuse association, self-esteem based on others' perceptions did. As other-based self-esteem is shaped by one's social and cultural contexts and reflects experiences with ongoing abuse, stigma, racism, and gender-based oppression, findings highlight the value of frameworks that situate experiences of IPV as shaped by context. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Older adults may be vulnerable to the adverse effects of loneliness on self-perceptions of aging processes during stressful life events, specifically subjective accelerated aging. The study aimed to explore the relationship between loneliness and subjective accelerated aging among older adults during the Israel-Hamas war and, moreover, whether protective factors of meaning in life and self-efficacy mediated and moderated this relationship. The sample included 589 older Israeli adults (M = 72.31, SD = 6.26). Data were collected during the first months of the Israel-Hamas war. Participant recruitment included online platforms and research assistants who actively allocated participants. Participants completed questionnaires of demographic characteristics, loneliness, meaning in life, self-efficacy, and subjective accelerated aging. Results showed a positive direct association between loneliness and subjective accelerated aging. The moderated mediation model showed that meaning in life mediated this relationship. Self-efficacy moderated the association between loneliness and meaning in life, but not between loneliness and subjective accelerated aging or meaning in life and subjective accelerated aging. The results highlight the detrimental effects of loneliness on older adults' self-perceptions of their aging process during war and terror. Interventions aimed at enhancing meaning in life should be tailored for older adults, particularly given the mediating role of meaning in life in reducing the impact of loneliness on subjective accelerated aging. The moderating effect of self-efficacy on the relationship between loneliness and meaning in life highlights the importance of fostering a sense of self-efficacy among older adults to further buffer the self-perceptions of accelerated aging. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Culturally adapted parent training prevention interventions are critical for supporting the mental health and resilience of Latine immigrant families. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, parent training programs transitioned to online delivery, increasing flexibility and expanding access. This qualitative study explored the experiences of first-generation Latine immigrant caregivers (N = 22) in central Texas-86.4% of whom were of Mexican origin-who participated in a culturally adapted, synchronous online parent training program during the pandemic. Most participants were mothers (21 of 22). Through thematic analysis of focus group data, four key themes were generated: (a) immigration-related experiences and parenting challenges, (b) intervention components that addressed these challenges, (c) barriers and facilitators to participation, and (d) ongoing parenting needs. Caregivers reported increased parenting confidence and skill acquisition, alongside a sense of validation and support through the online community. While the virtual format enhanced accessibility, some participants encountered technological barriers. Key facilitators included the cultural competence of interventionists and the creation of a safe space for sharing immigration experiences. Participants highlighted the needs for further adaptation, including more father engagement, adolescent-focused content, and support in addressing intergenerational parenting patterns. Findings underscore the importance of creating therapeutic spaces that acknowledge immigration-related trauma and stress while building parental resilience and family well-being. These findings provide valuable insights for improving online synchronous delivery formats to enhance accessibility while maintaining program effectiveness and cultural responsiveness, promoting mental health equity for immigrant communities. Clinical and empirical implications are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
In this study, we use a mixed methods approach to analyze how age-diverse White Americans (N = 344) make meaning of specific instances of personal racial bias. We used a postpositivist research paradigm (Ponterotto, 2010; Ryan, 2006) to better understand how White adults assigned meaning to their past experiences of perpetuating racial bias. By integrating and expanding models of emotions (Ekman, 1992; Ford et al., 2022; Grzanka et al., 2020; Stephan & Stephan, 1985) and bias justifications (Condor et al., 2006; Crandall & Eshleman, 2003; Ford et al., 2022), we examined how White adults reflected on their bias by spontaneously using bias justifications and emotions. Regarding themes of bias, 87% of participants displayed beliefs that a person's racial group provides information about how dangerous or criminal they are. Age-diverse adults offered a range of bias justifications, including attributing their bias to various intergroup processes, like intergroup anxiety. In addition, participants most frequently indicated forms of sadness (including self-conscious emotions such as shame) about their bias. These types of justifications and emotions interrupt motivations to seek out interracial contexts or regulate their bias in the future. Specific types of bias, emotions, and justifications only differed moderately by age. Qualitative analysis demonstrated that most individuals' bias recognition was disconnected from a critical examination of how their racial bias justifications and emotions may help them maintain bias. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Mass traumas, resulting from war and terrorist attacks, natural or human-made disasters, are rapidly escalating worldwide. Nevertheless, studies examining the implications of mass trauma on children are limited, particularly in terms of how it affects peer relations and friendships. This study focused on how the children's exposure to a massive terror attack and war influences their peer relations and friendships, and how these help them cope with the implications of the mass trauma. The uniqueness of the present study lies in its focus on the lived experiences and voices of children and youth. A qualitative, phenomenological approach was used, with 51 children aged 10-17 participating in focus groups. The findings indicate that while the trauma initially disrupted friendships, it also fostered positive changes. Many children reported stronger bonds with friends, expanded social networks, and increased appreciation for their peers. Moreover, friendships emerged as a critical coping resource, providing emotional support, and compensating for the perceived emotional absence of adults, who were often overwhelmed by their own distress. This study highlighted the importance of children's voices in understanding the social dimensions of trauma. The implications of these findings for policy and practice are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
The U.S. Surgeon General in 2023 declared an "epidemic of loneliness and social isolation" in the United States, conditions that impact health risks, including suicidal ideation. U.S. women military veterans may face particular challenges to social connection due to relatively small numbers of women veterans within civilian communities as well as gender-specific military experiences that can increase isolation and disrupt social relationships. There is growing concern about suicide risk among this population. As part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs suicide prevention efforts, the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) provides free, 24-hr human support during acute crises and connection to other resources. Through analysis of qualitative interviews with 26 women veterans who had contacted the VCL in the prior year, we identified that women veterans sought human connection through the VCL in times of acute mental distress when other opportunities were limited due to the following: (a) lack of people within their social networks, (b) people in their social networks not being available in times of need, (c) not wanting to burden people in their networks, or (d) experiencing those in their social networks as not supportive or understanding. Our findings speak to the value of the VCL for supporting women veterans' needs for the structural, functional, and quality elements of social support and connection, with opportunities to mitigate the impacts of social isolation and loneliness for this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).
The present study aimed to differentiate groups based upon the ways undergraduate students at a large public university in the southeastern United States experienced depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and social isolation before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and how their experiences changed as the pandemic progressed. Specifically, current analyses examined within-person trends in mental health baseline and change values, identities of most likely class members, and associations among coping strategies used and latent profiles. First-year students were surveyed both before (October 2019 to February 2020) and after (June/July 2020) the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Baseline values and change scores in depression, anxiety, and social isolation were used as indicators in a latent profile analysis, which yielded a six-class solution. Additionally, associations among latent mental health profiles and coping strategies used during lockdown were examined. While most of the sample remained in the same moderate or low severity range in which they started, profiles also emerged in which students (a) began with low severity across indicators and increased substantially, (b) began in high distress and remained that way, and (c) began in extremely high distress and decreased to moderate levels of distress. Latent profile associations with coping strategy and identity revealed modest associations between the latent profiles with increasing distress and coping via substance use and negative emotion expression. Avoidance was the most widely endorsed coping strategy. Campus responses should consider tiered or flexible approaches to support a high degree of heterogeneity among student mental health presentations and coping strategies and prepare to swiftly enact a needs assessment to guide resource allocation in times of collective crisis, in addition to ongoing assessment and conversation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
This study examines the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning, and related (LGBTQ+) individuals with psychiatric diagnoses regarding self-disclosure by LGBTQ+ social workers in mental health services. Understanding their perspectives and reflections contributes to deeper insight into the recovery process and the specific needs of LGBTQ+ clients. Twenty-nine LGBTQ+ individuals with psychiatric diagnoses receiving psychiatric rehabilitation services in Israel participated in semistructured in-depth interviews. Guided by intersectionality theory, this phenomenological study explores how shared identity shapes therapeutic relationships in mental health care. Findings revealed that therapist self-disclosure functions as a complex relational process. Visibility was experienced as a therapeutic resource that fostered trust, safety, and belonging and accelerated the development of the therapeutic alliance. At the same time, shared identity introduced ethical and relational complexities, including blurred boundaries, confidentiality concerns, and the risk of reducing clients' experiences to a single identity axis. Participants further described how professional stance and boundary negotiation enabled processes of rupture and repair, allowing challenges to be transformed into opportunities for deeper therapeutic engagement. The findings suggest that LGBTQ+ identity disclosure is neither inherently beneficial nor harmful, but depends on context, timing, implementation, and client interpretation. When enacted reflexively and supported by supervision, self-disclosure can enhance therapeutic care, reduce stigma, and promote equity in mental health services. These results underscore the need for structured training and institutional support to guide ethical and affirmative disclosure practices in clinical social work. Supporting LGBTQ+ visibility promotes social justice and inclusivity at the policy level. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
This study examined the lived experiences of older adults displaced from the Israeli region near Gaza upon the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in 2023. The region's residents, already exposed to decades of continuous traumatic situation, were evacuated under emergency conditions and remained displaced for approximately 5 to 8 months at the time of the interviews. Using an inductive qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 displaced older adults (aged 66-92), focusing on the challenges of displacement in later life, coping strategies, and supportive resources. The interview transcripts were analyzed thematically. The analysis revealed three main themes: (a) severe psychological distress related to the displacement and its traumatic context: intrusive thoughts and depressive moods, physical health consequences, and prolonged uncertainty and loss of control. Some linked the trauma to earlier years of living under threats, emphasizing the cumulative nature of their distress. (b) Coping strategies and internal resources: participants engaged in activities in their new environment, actively developed emotional regulation, and drew on experiences of resilience accumulated over time. (c) External resources, principally family and community ties, alongside host community and, for a few, professional assistance. The findings indicate that trauma in later life cannot be fully understood from either vulnerability or resilience-based perspectives alone but rather through their dynamic coexistence and shifting balance, particularly under conditions of continuous traumatic situation. These insights underscore the need for age-sensitive responses and interventions that strengthen family and community ties while ensuring access to professional support for older adults displaced in contexts of war and natural disaster. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Worldwide rates of asylum seeking are at a historic high. Globally, there are over 122 million displaced individuals, with youth under 18 comprising approximately 40% of this population. The United States is one of the largest receiving countries for asylum seekers including unaccompanied minors and families seeking asylum. Minors seeking asylum have heightened vulnerability to the adverse effects of structural and subsequent interpersonal violence due to their developmental stage and reliance on adult caregivers. Given this, we conducted a retrospective content analysis of 13 medical-legal affidavits of asylum-seeking youth arriving in the United States between 2016 and 2020 to understand their lived experience and the legal and institutional structures that impact them. Using an ecosocial theoretical framework, we describe how structural violence (e.g., policies that create environments of oppression) during the stages of migration and postmigration increases the risk of interpersonal violence and jeopardizes their mental health and well-being. Findings highlight both the increased risk for psychological distress and noteworthy resilience and protective factors youth demonstrate. We consider the holistic experiences of asylum-seeking minors to inform policy recommendations that can support positive youth development and resilience during migration and resettlement. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Public health restrictions during infectious disease outbreaks can have a significant impact on the social lives of all individuals given public health guidance related to quarantining, shelter-in-place, and social distancing. These impacts may be felt differently or more profoundly by people who live alone. However, minimal research or public health guidance focused on the needs of individuals living alone. In this qualitative study, eight focus groups were completed with 37 participants that had experience living alone during some point in the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants lived in different regions of the United States and were predominantly female and White. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify codes related to how social lives were impacted and how the individuals adapted at different phases of the pandemic. Participants reported their adaptation changed depending on the phase of the pandemic, and some reported needing to socialize despite the risk. Some individuals were able to gain social connection through technology or finding support within their community, whereas others experienced heightened levels of loneliness and negative coping. Implications for providing guidance that addresses the large population of adults that live alone are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
The study aims to characterize individuals experiencing homelessness in Madrid (Spain) who report the highest levels of discrimination across various settings, with a focus on intersectional vulnerabilities and the relationship between these experiences and their mental health status. Structured interviews were conducted with 355 people experiencing homelessness, including questions about their experiences of discrimination across institutional and everyday settings throughout their lifetime. At least one in every two participants reported thefts and property damage, unfair treatment by law enforcement, and unprovoked threats and assaults. Nearly one-third of the individuals interviewed also reported unfairly the loss of a close relationship and unfair treatment in the labor market, the housing market, and public transportation and commercial establishments. The quartile that reported suffering the highest levels of discrimination consistently across contexts was younger on average and characterized by a greater presence of women and Spanish-born individuals. Their history of homelessness was more complex, with a higher proportion of youth-onset homelessness and unsheltered homelessness, and greater involvement in prostitution and survival sex. Moreover, individuals who reported more experiences of discrimination showed a higher prevalence of disabilities and mental health diagnoses, as well as substance abuse, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and symptomatology consistent with the diagnosis of complex posttraumatic stress disorder. The cumulative impact of experiences of discrimination and intersectional vulnerabilities highlights the need for targeted interventions and tailored attention in different services and institutions, recognizing all the potential psychosocial determinants of mental health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Youth living in marginalized neighborhoods and the adults who support them experience a burden of high stress, including exposure to firearm violence, as a result of targeted structural violence. Multigenerational interventions that foster well-being are vital given the potential for caring adults to mitigate the effects of violence on youth. Guided by a trauma-informed, community-based participatory research approach, and the "adapt and evaluate" framework, the present study details the process by which teens impacted by gun violence, community violence intervention (CVI) workers, and university researchers collaborated to cocreate a multigenerational, culture-centered mindfulness-based intervention (MBI). Researchers collaborated with youth coresearchers to conduct focus groups with adolescents (N = 26) and CVI workers (N = 15) to explore sources of stress and coping to inform the adaption of an MBI. Data were coanalyzed with youth coresearchers, revealing sources of stress for youth and CVI workers. As an outcome of this process, an MBI was created for both youth and workers. Focus groups were conducted with adolescents (N = 8) and workers (N = 20) to explore reactions to the pilot. Stemming from the strong relationships between university researchers and the community partners, a key finding was the importance of cocreating mindfulness supports not only for youth but also for CVI workers who support them. Our success underscores that when collaboratively developed with a beginner's mind, MBIs are a promising tool for fostering resilience in communities disproportionately affected by structural oppression. This study illustrates how shared power, cultural adaptation, and community ownership can strengthen both the relevance and sustainability of MBIs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Recurrent crises like natural disasters, pandemics, and armed conflicts constitute a persistent traumatic reality for communities worldwide, significantly affecting students, teachers, and parents. While the importance of education in emergencies is well recognized, the research in western contexts has largely focused on acute collective traumas, with less attention to schools facing ongoing war and political conflict traumas. To address this gap, the study explored Israeli teachers' (N = 1,100) and parents' (N = 710) expectations of school psychosocial and material support for students, staff members, and parents; their evaluations of the actual support provided; and discrepancies between the two during the October 7 Israel-Hamas war. t tests were used to compare the school's expected role versus evaluations of provided support regarding students, teachers, and parents and to compare teachers' and parents' perceptions of roles and support provided. Analysis of variance, t tests, and correlations were used to explore associations between participants' background characteristics and their expectations of schools. Both groups emphasized schools' crucial role in providing emotional support and guidance, but notable gaps existed between expectations and actual support, especially regarding counseling (teachers: ta = 28.44, d = 1.07; parents: ta = 33.03, d = 1.08). Parents and teachers also differed in their expectations and perceptions, highlighting the need to include all stakeholder perspectives. The findings indicate the need for increased resources for emotional support, structured guidance, and systemic backing. Enhancing school-family communication and aligning expectations are also vital during crises. The authors stress the importance of preparing for future recurrent emergencies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Despite the growing body of resilience research focusing on children and youth in stressful situations and environments, limited attention has been paid to the resilience of at-risk young adults and those from minority backgrounds, such as Arabs in Israel. Their status as at-risk members of an ethnic minority within a collectivist and patriarchal culture makes their situation particularly challenging, warranting greater empirical attention. In this study, we examined the resilience-enabling resources of this particular cohort within their sociopolitical, sociocultural, and interpersonal contexts. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 35 at-risk young adults. Constructivist grounded methodology revealed two core themes: (a) self-directed resilience and (b) family relations and institutional enablers. The findings demonstrate the complex dual influence of culture and ethnic minority status in shaping these young adults' resilience. Certain culturally rooted risks appeared to catalyze the development of internal resilience capacities, while family cultural norms and supportive relationships also functioned as powerful and indispensable pillars of resilience. The findings hold significant practical implications for the design of culturally sensitive interventions that address structural vulnerabilities while leveraging existing capabilities. Furthermore, adopting an identity-specific, strengths-based approach underscores how experiences of marginalization can serve as a foundation for developing unique strengths and competencies during emerging adulthood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is common in childhood abuse survivors. Nonetheless, the relation between symptoms of BDD, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and complex PTSD, as well as the effects of different forms of childhood abuse in explaining these symptoms, remains unclear. This study explored (a) BDD scores as a function of childhood abuse; (b) the relationship between symptoms of BDD, PTSD, and disturbances in self-organization (DSO) in childhood abuse survivors; and (c) the effect of levels of different forms of childhood abuse on BDD, PTSD, and DSO symptoms. An online survey was conducted among a convenience sample of 404 Israeli adult women, of whom 53.7% (n = 217) were classified as having a history of childhood abuse. Background variables, BDD symptoms, and the classification and symptoms of PTSD and complex PTSD were assessed online via self-report measures. Results indicated elevated BDD scores in childhood abuse survivors and relationships between symptoms of BDD, PTSD, and DSO in childhood abuse survivors. Levels of emotional abuse served as a trans-diagnostic risk factor for PTSD, DSO, and BDD symptoms, whereas sexual abuse was associated with PTSD symptoms, and physical abuse had no significant effect. The strongest noncausal effect was found for PTSD and DSO symptoms, followed by BDD and DSO symptoms and BDD and PTSD symptoms. The present findings suggest that childhood abuse may be a risk factor for BDD and that trauma-related disorders and BDD are strongly associated in childhood abuse survivors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Adopted adults may be at a higher risk of developing complex trauma symptoms due to early attachment ruptures caused by separating from caregivers and other potential early adverse childhood experiences. Critical consciousness, or interrogating systems of oppression, may mitigate trauma symptoms of powerlessness for marginalized groups by inspiring purposeful collective action. This study explored the association between critical consciousness (critical reflection, motivation, and action) and complex trauma symptoms from a national cross-sectional online survey of a racially diverse sample (N = 464) of adopted adults in the United States. The final regression model, which included demographic variables, adoption characteristics, traumatic experiences, and critical consciousness, explained 34.9% of complex trauma symptoms among adult adoptees in the sample, R² = .349, F(3, 355) = 5.630, p < .001, and critical consciousness accounted for 3.1% of the unique variance. Critical motivation, or a belief in one's ability to contribute to social change, was the only variable associated with lower complex trauma symptoms (β = -0.15, p = .019). Critical reflection, or a realization of societal inequality (β = .13, p = .037) and critical action, or political activism (β = .14, p = .004), were associated with higher trauma symptoms. Exploratory findings suggest critical consciousness of systemic oppression may be an important and complex factor to consider when addressing complex trauma symptoms among racially diverse clients who grew up outside of the "traditional" standard North American family (i.e., heterosexual, legally married couple with biological children). Findings suggest that aspects of critical consciousness may cause distress, but other aspects, such as critical motivation, may address feelings of powerlessness and be associated with lower complex trauma symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).