Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prolonged political conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean Region has led to widespread instability, with mental health concerns extending outside directly affected populations. AIM: This study investigates the psychological impact of regional conflict on non-displaced civilians in Egypt, a conflict-neighboring country. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 394 Egyptian adults utilizing validated Arabic versions of the PHQ-9 (depression), GAD-7 (anxiety), PSS-10 (perceived stress), and BRCS (resilient coping). Participants also responded to a single-item measure evaluating the extent to which political conflict interrupted their daily functioning. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and comparisons across conflict-impact categories. RESULTS: Respondents reporting greater functional disruption from regional conflict displayed significantly higher depression, anxiety, and stress scores (p < 0.01; η² = 0.13-0.17) and lower resilient coping (p < 0.05; η² = 0.02). The highest burden appeared among participants aged 18-25 and those reporting "extreme difficulty." Females and frequent social media users exhibited greater psychological distress. Non-overlapping 95% CIs supported the robustness and clinical relevance of group differences. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight civilians' psychological vulnerability in politically unstable yet non-war contexts. Indirect conflict exposure, through media, cultural ties, or regional proximity, adversely affects mental health, underscoring the need for targeted screening and resilience-building programs, particularly for youth and digitally active groups.