Dr. Efrat Sher-Censor, Dr. Rinat Feniger-Schaal, Prof. David Oppenheim, Prof. Nina Koren-Karie, Ms. Maysan Raya, Ms. Olga Klarteg
This study examined how the "Iron Swords" war impacted Israeli parents and their children seven to nine months after it began. We surveyed 1,689 parents from Jewish and Arab communities across Israel, including families with children of all ages. The results revealed that, even though most families did not live in areas of direct fighting, many parents felt their lives and their families’ lives were in danger. A significant number also reported higher-than-normal levels of psychological distress for both themselves and their children. Parents often felt emotionally drained and struggled to talk with their children about the war. Importantly, these patterns were similar for Jewish and Arab families. Some families were especially vulnerable: families where parents experienced many war-related events, displaced families forced to leave their homes due to the war, and families where parents had past childhood exposure to rocket alarms or terrorist attacks. While personal creativity and support from friends, family, professionals, and the community helped ease some of the stress, they couldn’t fully counteract the war's adverse effects. These findings emphasize the importance of tailored support for families, particularly those identified as high-risk.
