Investigated the extent to which differences in the presence of trauma, stress, and family variables accounted for variations in psychological distress and well-being. Ss were 305 15-65 yr old women, recruited from Palestinian Human Rights Information Centre records, who were affected by political oppression during the intifadVarious scales were used to assess psychological distress, well-being, political stress factors (punishments, family member killed, injured, or arrested, tangible losses), stress due to life events and changes, social-psychological family resources, family hardiness, and family coping strategies. Results indicate that negative life events were more predictive of psychological distress and well-being than was the presence of trauma or political stressors. Cumulative life changes had a major impact on well-being of traumatized, but not of nontraumatized, women.