The Mediating Effects of Child Strengths and Hopes on Academic Achievement for Palestinian Children Exposed to Armed Conflict

Abstract

This study investigated predictors of academic achievement among Palestinian children, including child and parent characteristics, exposure to armed conflict, child strengths, and children's hope. Participants were 1,697 children of both genders. The mean age of participants was 12 years, 10 months. Results of the final hierarchical multiple regression model indicated that a child's younger age and a higher level of a parent's education were associated with better academic achievement. Exposure to armed conflict was related to lower academic achievement. Among the various dimensions of children's strengths, only academic/vocational and peer strengths were related to higher levels of academic achievement. Also, children who had higher hopes that were reflected in agency and pathways thoughts had better academic achievement.

Keywords:

• Academic achievement
• children strengths
• hope
• Palestinian children
• political trauma