AUTHOR=Sisenop Felix , Arndt Sarah , Behr Kim-Julian , Chatarajupalli Pallavi , Schäfer Ingo , Lindert Jutta 
  
TITLE=Potentially traumatic life events and mental health conditions. Identifying the role of resilience in a cross-sectional study from Northwestern Germany
  
JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health
  
VOLUME=Volume 71 - 2026
  
YEAR=2026
  
URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2026.1609376
  
DOI=10.3389/ijph.2026.1609376
  
ISSN=1661-8564
  
ABSTRACT=ObjectivesPotentially traumatic life events (PTEs) are associated with increased risk of depression. Yet there is limited evidence on the association between quantity and type of PTEs and mental health in rural areas. This study examines the relationship between PTEs, resilience and mental health conditions (depression, anxiety) in Northwestern Germany.MethodsCross-sectional population-based study of adults (n = 354) assessing sociodemographic factors, resilience (BRS), depression (PHQ-9), PTEs (LEC-5). Clusters of PTEs were identified on a conceptual basis. Linear regression analysis investigated association between PTEs and mental health. Resilience as a moderator was tested.ResultsDepression was reported by 16.1% (n = 57), anxiety by 11.9% (n = 42) of the participants. PTE clusters identified were accidental/injury (n = 300, 84.7%), loss/life-threatening (n = 299, 84.5%), victimization (n = 218, 61.6%), and war/conflict-related events (n = 88, 24.9%). War/conflict-related events were linked with higher depression (B = 1.330, 95% CI: 0.013, 2.647). Resilience moderated the association between PTEs and depression.ConclusionCumulative and type of PTEs (especially war/conflict related) were associated with worse mental health. Resilience moderated associations with depression at lower resilience levels.