Abstract
A sharp increase in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms has been detected in Israel following the terror attacks of October 7th 2023. To examine the role of potential resilience factors, we investigated the moderating effects of social support and coping strategies in the relationship between trauma exposure and severity of PTSD and emotional distress symptoms. Approximately 20 days following the terror attack, 415 Israeli adults were assessed for PTSD symptoms, general distress, extent of social support and coping strategies. The results indicated a significant moderating effect for perceived social support (B = −1.02, SE = 0.47, p = .031), indicating a significantly stronger association between trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms for individuals with low support (B = 5.22, SE = 0.91, p < .001), compared to for individuals with high support (B = 2.49, SE = 0.87, p = .004). This effect was significant for social support from a significant other and friends (B = −1.24, SE = 0.49, p = .011 and B = −0.86, SE = 0.42, p = .042, respectively), but not from family. Coping orientation to problems had no moderating effect on these associations. These findings underscore the importance of social support as a protective factor in the aftermath of collective trauma and sets the stage to consider this factor as a pivotal element in resilience-oriented interventions.
Published Version
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