Empathy as a double-edged sword: Study reveals hidden mental health risks for youth during war
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 19-Jan-2026 22:11 ET (20-Jan-2026 03:11 GMT/UTC)
New study shows that children who were more empathic early in life—those who strongly felt others’ suffering as toddlers and again as preteens—were more likely to experience anxiety and depression during the Israel–Hamas war that followed the October 7th attack. Crucially, this vulnerability only emerged under conditions of mass trauma: empathy was not linked to distress in regular times. The findings reveal that while empathy is often celebrated as a protective trait, it can also heighten susceptibility to psychological harm in the face of widespread conflict and violence.
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