Religiosity and Resilience among School-aged Children in the Arab World: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Children growing up amid political unrest in the Arab world face sustained exposure to violence, displacement, and instability, placing them at heightened risk for psychological distress. Within these contexts, religiosity is often embedded in children’s everyday lives and may shape how they cope with adversity and maintain resilience. Guided by the PRISMA framework, this systematic review synthesized empirical evidence on the relationship between religiosity, resilience, and psychological wellbeing among school-aged children and adolescents (approximately 6–18 years) living in conflict-affected Arab settings. Comprehensive searches of major academic databases identified peer-reviewed studies published in English. Following title, abstract, and full-text screening based on predefined inclusion criteria—focusing on Arab conflict contexts, school-aged populations, and explicit measures of religiosity and mental health—57 empirical studies were retained, of which 17 met criteria for inclusion in the main synthesis. The evidence primarily represented Palestinian and Lebanese contexts, including children living under occupation, siege, or displacement, as well as refugee populations in host countries. A narrative and thematic synthesis was conducted, integrating findings from quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies, with methodological quality assessed using standardized appraisal tools. Across the core evidence, religiosity was often associated with lower levels of post-traumatic stress and emotional distress, particularly when expressed through supportive beliefs, personal practices such as prayer, and involvement in religious communities. Qualitative studies further highlighted meaning-making, emotional regulation, communal belonging, and identity as key pathways linking religiosity to resilience. However, the review also identified mixed and null findings, and in some contexts, rigid or punitive forms of religiosity were associated with increased distress. Most included studies were cross-sectional and rated as having moderate risk of bias. Overall, the findings suggest that religiosity can function as a context-dependent resilience resource for some war-affected Arab children, rather than a uniformly protective factor. The review underscores the need for nuanced, culturally grounded approaches in research and practice, as well as for more longitudinal, child-focused studies that better capture the complex role of religiosity in resilience under political violence. These findings highlight the relevance of culturally grounded religious and spiritual dimensions for understanding resilience in conflict-affected childhoods, while also underscoring the need for cautious interpretation given the methodological limitations of the existing evidence.