Effects of Psychological Distress and Exposure to Terror-Related Stress on the Self in Emerging Adulthood Moran Schiller 1,2 & Michael Pinus 1,2 & Constance C. Hammen 3 & Golan Shahar 1,2 # Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019 Abstract We compared vulnerability and scarring models linking self-concept and psychological distress in young adulthood. Whereas the vulnerability model posits self-concept pathology leading to psychological distress, the prediction of the scarring model is inverse. We also examined the moderating role of exposure to missile attacks. Israeli young adults (N = 124), who had participated in a previous study (Schiller et al. Self and Identity 15(3)302–326, 2016), were followed up with again 15 months after the third assessment, and subsequent to a dramatic exposure to missiles. Baseline psycho- logical distress and exposure to terror-related stress predicted impairment in six self- concept dimensions: self-criticism, self-concept clarity, generalized self-efficacy, inad- equate self, hated self and reassured self. On the other hand only two variables: self- esteem and exposure to terror-related stress predicted elevated levels of psychological distress. Findings attest to the viability of self-concept scarring by psychopathology and traumatic stress during young adulthood. Keywords Young adulthood . Scarring hypothesis . Self-concept . Psychological distress . Terror Emerging adulthood (i.e., 18–25 years old; see Arnett 2000, 2011) is characterized by an extensive moratorium, provided to young people for the purpose of immersing International Journal of Cognitive Therapy https://doi.org/10.1007/s41811-019-00053-7 * Moran Schiller moranschiller@gmail.com * Golan Shahar golan.shahar878@gmail.com 1 Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel 2 Department of Psychology and Stress, Self, & Health (STREALTH) Lab, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 800 Ben-Gurion Avenue, 84105 Beer Sheva, Israel 3 University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA