Engagement in community activities and trust in local leaders as concomitants of psychological distress among Israeli civilians exposed to prolonged rocket attacks. Issue 4 (4th July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zanbar, Lea; Kaniasty, Krzysztof; Ben-Tzur, Navit
• Is Part Of: Anxiety, stress, and coping. Volume 31:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 431
• Page End: 446
• Publication Date: 2018-07-04
• Subjects: Political violence -- continuous traumatic situations -- engagement in community activities -- trust in leaders -- PTSD -- psychological distress; Anxiety -- Periodicals; Anxiety -- Research -- Periodicals; Anxiety -- periodicals; Stress -- periodicals; Adaptation, Psychological -- periodicals; 616.8522
• DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2018.1460747
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1061-5806

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background and objectives: Present study, conducted in the aftermath of the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, investigated psychological toll of exposure to rockets attacks in a sample of residents of central and southern Israel. Analyses focused on the distress-protective functions of collectively grounded resources: engagement in community activities and trust in local leadership. Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted between 2 and 3 months after the hostilities. Method: Participants ( N = 764) were recruited by an online survey company that distributed a questionnaire assessing, in addition to focal predictors, sociodemographic factors and prior exposure to trauma. The outcome variables were post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and nonspecific distress symptoms. Results: Conservative regression analyses revealed that greater exposure to rocket attacks was predictive of higher levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms. Higher engagement in community activities exhibited a partial trauma-buffering function. However, higher levels of trust in local leaders appeared to exacerbate, rather than diminish, negative impact of rocket exposure on PTSD. Symptoms of psychological distress were not influenced neither by trauma exposure nor by stressor interactions with resources. Trust in local leadership exerted a beneficial main effect on distress. Conclusions: Collectively based resources are important for coping in times of community-wide stressors, yet their role is complex.