<p>Stressful events, whether natural or unnatural, can exert significant psychological pressure on individuals and jeopardize their mental health. Adolescents, being in a period of growth and development, are susceptible to the consequences and complications of adverse events. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS) and Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) in adolescents who have experienced trauma, with a focus on the indirect effects of resilience and academic self-efficacy. The participants in this quantitative and cross-sectional study were 415 high school students (201 females, 214 males; age range: 15–18 years) from Sanandaj, Iran, who were selected using purposive sampling during the 2023–2024 academic year. Participants completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES; <i>α</i> = 0.55, indicating low internal consistency). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Correlation analyses indicated that most PTGI subscales significantly correlated with PCL-5 subscales (<i>p</i> ≤ .05), except for intrusions with spiritual change (<i>r</i> = − .04) and emotional numbness with appreciation of life (<i>r</i> = − .02). Analysis of indirect effects showed that the paths from PTSS to PTG through resilience (<i>β</i> = − 0.19) and academic self-efficacy (<i>β</i> = − 0.07) were significant (<i>p</i> ≤ .05). These findings suggest that resilience and academic self-efficacy are associated with lower levels of PTSS and higher levels of PTG among traumatized adolescents. Therefore, addressing these variables in school-based counseling for adolescents with PTSS may be highly beneficial.</p>