Objective: The present study, conducted after the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict, was aimed to investigate 2 resources (i.e., personal mastery and community dedication) hypothesized to have a mediating effect on the relationship between trauma exposure and PTSS (posttraumatic stress symptoms) and PTG (posttraumatic growth) in the aftermath of a traumatic event. Method: Israeli civilians (N = 1,014) completed a questionnaire assessing levels of trauma exposure (the predictors), sense of mastery and community dedication (the mediators), and PTSS and PTG (the outcomes). Results: PTSS and PTG were positively related. Sense of mastery mediated the association between trauma exposure and PTSS symptoms and was negatively associated with PTSS and PTG. Community dedication was positively related to PTG and mediated the association of trauma with PTG. Conclusions: People higher in mastery may not need to search for a "silver lining" in coping with psychological consequences of trauma as they believe they are capable of handling it. Conversely, persons with higher levels of coping self-confidence may be denied the benefits of posttraumatic growth in coping with trauma. People's connections to the community in times of coping with collective upheavals may not protect them against PTSS yet community orientation may bring postevent benefits of posttraumatic growth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

The study examined the contribution of personal and community resources to personal well-being and community well-being (sense of belonging to the community) among community activists in neighbourhoods of low socio-economic status (SES) in Israel. The activists, who represent the residents of their communities, are supervised by macro-intervention social workers. They are involved in developing and providing a variety of services in response to a range of different needs of their communities. The research model, based on the social system theory, examined both the direct relationships among the variables at various levels, and the mediating variables. The sample consisted of 481 activists from low-SES populations (new immigrants, single mothers, residents of low-SES neighbourhoods, people with disabilities). The findings indicate that community resources mediate the relationship between personal resources and community well-being. Thus, personal resources alone are not sufficient to enhance the sense of community well-being; individuals also need to be involved in community activity. The results regarding the personal resources that contribute to community activity can be used as a basis for identifying potential community activists. Moreover, as the findings emphasise the positive outcomes of community activity, they may facilitate the recruitment of community activists.