Practical Takeaways: Helping Teens Build Resilience During War

Why Practical Tools Matter

Theories and statistics provide understanding, but the true value of research lies in how it can be applied in everyday life. When we talk about resilience, it is not an abstract concept but a set of concrete strategies that help adolescents cope with academic pressure, family conflict, war, or even simple misunderstandings with peers.

In my 2024 study, I found that resilience depends less on attachment style itself and more on the coping strategies a teenager tends to choose. This means that adults should not wait for adolescents to “figure things out on their own,” but instead actively help them develop effective strategies.

What Adults Can Do

For Parents

Encourage open conversations without judgment. Communication should not be reduced to grades and performance. Adolescents need to hear: “I see your emotions, and it is normal to feel this way.”

Create stability and predictability. Daily routines, shared meals, and family traditions provide a sense of safety in uncertain times.

Be a role model. Children learn by observing. If parents avoid problems or react with anger, teenagers adopt these same patterns. If parents demonstrate that asking for help is a strength, children learn to do the same.

Practice coping skills together. Families can try exercises like writing down “five things that calm me,” role-playing stressful situations, or brainstorming solutions together.

For Teachers

Build a psychologically safe classroom. Students should feel accepted. Psychological safety means more than the absence of bullying; it is also a culture where mistakes are seen as part of learning.

Use group projects as resilience training. Working in teams teaches cooperation and peer support. This is particularly important since in my study no teenager chose “seeking social support” as a coping strategy.

Reduce toxic comparisons. Focus on individual progress rather than ranking students. This decreases avoidant and emotion-driven coping.

Introduce psychoeducational programs. Lessons that teach emotional regulation, breathing techniques, and time management give adolescents concrete tools for resilience.

For Psychologists

Expand coping repertoires. If a teenager relies on avoidance, teach planning. If emotions dominate, focus on regulation strategies.

Address insecure attachment. Therapeutic settings can provide new relational experiences where the adolescent feels heard and accepted.

Use group formats. Support groups and resilience workshops allow adolescents to practice empathy and learn that others share similar struggles.

Work within the cultural context. In Ukraine, avoidance may feel like a “normal” strategy during war. Psychologists should help adolescents see that constructive strategies work better in the long run.

What Adolescents Can Do Themselves

Keep an emotional journal. Writing about stressful events and reactions increases awareness.

Use the “3-minute rule.” When overwhelmed, pause for three minutes before reacting.

Break problems into small steps. Large challenges become manageable when divided into smaller tasks.

Find your support network. Whether through friends, sports, or online communities, connection is a resource, not a weakness.

Engage in restorative activities. Hobbies such as art, music, sports, or volunteering provide outlets for stress and foster resilience.

The Ukrainian Context

One striking result from my research was that none of the adolescents chose seeking social support as a coping strategy. This stands in sharp contrast to Western studies, where turning to friends or family is considered one of the strongest resilience factors.

In Ukraine, especially in times of war and displacement, many adolescents learn to cope silently. Avoidance becomes the dominant strategy. In the short term, avoidance may reduce immediate stress, but in the long term it increases the risk of anxiety, depression, and physical symptoms.

That is why Ukraine needs to build not only individual resilience but also collective resilience — through schools, communities, and cultural practices. Creating safe spaces for adolescents to connect, share, and seek help should be a priority.

Conclusion

Resilience development is multidimensional. Parents provide emotional security. Teachers shape environments where mistakes are not feared. Psychologists introduce new strategies for coping. Adolescents themselves practice awareness and learn to regulate emotions.

In Ukraine, where teenagers are growing up in the context of war, resilience is not just a resource for development but a requirement for survival. Teaching adolescents to see stress not only as a threat but also as a challenge can turn difficult circumstances into opportunities for inner growth and strength.

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