Spontaneous war weddings as a reaction to a national trauma: A terror management theory perspective.

On 7 October 2023, 3,000 Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip infiltrated Israel. Over 1,300 people were killed on that day, and over 240 were abducted to Gaza. On October 8, Israel declared war on Hamas. The current study delves into the prevailing phenomenon of spontaneous war weddings held in military settings during the war. Drawing from Terror Management Theory (TMT) and utilizing an ethnographic approach, we analyze published media reports of these weddings. We suggest that this phenomenon is a sign of three terror management anxiety buffer mechanisms activated in view of current national and personal mortality salience: the validation of cultural worldviews; the enhancement of self-esteem; and the pursuit of proximity, in the form of a sense of closeness to attachment figures. All three anxiety-buffer mechanisms contribute to the fortification of psychological defenses, the denial of death, and the maintenance of psychological equanimity in view of this incomprehensible threat.

The Maternal Disintegrative Responses Scale (MDRS): Development and initial validation.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to design and examine the validity of the Maternal Disintegrative Responses Scale (MDRS) to assess intrusive thoughts and dissociative experiences in the postpartum period. METHOD: A convenience sample of 455 mothers whose babies were up to 12 months old completed the MDRS and a series of questionnaires assessing postnatal depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS]), childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and general symptoms of dissociation. RESULTS: The final scale consists of eight items tapping two dimensions, intrusive thoughts and dissociative experiences, and displays good psychometric properties. Both factors were found to be related to EPDS, PTSD OCD, and general symptoms of dissociation. Primiparous women scored higher than multiparous women on both dimensions, and mothers of infants up to 3 months old scored higher on dissociative experiences than those whose infants were aged 4-12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The MDRS can contribute to the theoretical and practical conceptualization and assessment of these phenomena.

Emotional and relational protective factors during pregnancy and psychological well-being and personal growth after childbirth.

BACKGROUND: Studies in the perinatal literature tend to focus on potential negative outcomes, but little attention has been paid to the protective factors that may be associated with better psychological well-being or positive mental changes, such as personal growth. OBJECTIVE: Drawing on the Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Emotions, the study employed a prospective design and a sequential mediation model to examine the mechanism by which protective factors during pregnancy (dispositional gratitude, perceived relationship quality with the partner, perceived maternal-foetal bonding) may be associated, in sequence, with higher psychological well-being and personal growth after childbirth among first-time mothers. METHODS: The sample consisted of 515 women who were recruited through social media and completed questionnaires in two phases: Time 1, during the second half of their pregnancy; and Time 2, around 12 weeks after the birth of their first baby. RESULTS: Results show that gratitude was associated with higher perceived relationship quality during pregnancy, which was associated with higher maternal-foetal bonding, which in turn was associated with higher psychological well-being and personal growth after childbirth. The indirect effects were significant. CONCLUSION: The study expands knowledge of positive outcomes in the transition to motherhood, and demonstrates that positive emotions, such as gratitude, may be the first link in the chain of factors predicting better outcomes from pregnancy to childbirth.

Psychological Well-being during Pregnancy: The Contribution of Stress Factors and Maternal-Fetal Bonding.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy and anticipation of the birth of the first child is considered a happy and exciting time. However, the stress involved in pregnancy has been found to put women at greater risk of impaired psychological well-being, or higher distress. Confusion in the theoretical literature between the terms 'stress' and 'distress' makes it difficult to understand the underlying mechanism that may enhance or reduce psychological well-being. We suggest that maintaining this theoretical distinction and examining stress from different sources, may allow us to gain new knowledge regarding the psychological well-being of pregnant women. OBJECTIVE: Drawing on the Calming Cycle Theory, to examine a moderated mediation model for the explanation of the dynamic between two stress factors (COVID-19-related anxiety and pregnancy stress) that may pose a risk to psychological well-being, as well as the protective role of maternal-fetal bonding. METHODS: The sample consisted of 1,378 pregnant women who were expecting their first child, recruited through social media and completed self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: The higher the COVID-19-related anxiety, the higher the pregnancy stress, which, in turn, was associated with lower psychological well-being. However, this effect was weaker among women who reported greater maternal-fetal bonding. CONCLUSION: The study expands knowledge of the dynamic between stress factors and psychological well-being during pregnancy, and sheds light on the unexplored role of maternal-fetal bonding as a protective factor against stress.

Contribution of personal and community resources to personal growth of mothers from Israel and Turkey.

AIMS: The transition to parenthood is considered one of the most important milestones in a person's life, bringing with it various changes and challenges. One possible outcome of such a life-altering and stressful event is the experience of personal growth (PG). This study examines the contribution of a mother's personal resources (emotion regulation strategies, resilience) and environmental resources (sense of community) to her PG following the transition to motherhood, taking into account the role played by ethnicity. METHODS: Data was collected from 402 Israeli Arab, Israeli Jewish, and Turkish first-time mothers of babies up to twenty-four months old. RESULTS: It was found that Israeli Arab mothers reported significantly higher expressive suppression and PG than the other two groups. In addition, Israeli Arab mothers scored significantly higher on resilience, and Israeli Jewish mothers scored significantly higher on sense of community, than Turkish mothers. After controlling for mother and baby background variables, cognitive reappraisal and sense of community were found to predict PG. Two interactions emerged: higher sense of community was related to greater PG only among Israeli Arab mothers; and a positive association between resilience and growth was found only among Israeli Jewish mothers. The results are discussed in relation to the literature. CONCLUSION: Personal and environmental resources contribute differently to growth of first-time mothers in different cultures. Thus, rather than implementing the same type of intervention in all cultures, appropriate interventions should be tailored for each culture in accordance with its unique characteristics.

Psychological distress, optimism and emotion regulation among Israeli Jewish and Arab pregnant women during COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is a vulnerable period for women, and it is especially so under the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas there is some evidence for distress among pregnant women during the outspread of COVID-19, little is known about the second wave of the pandemic. We therefore sought to examine the contribution of background variables, ethnicity (Jewish, Arab), personal resources (optimism, emotion regulation), and COVID-19-related anxieties to pregnant Israeli women's psychological distress. METHOD: A convenience sample of 1127 Israeli women was recruited from 5 July to 7 October 2020. RESULTS: Not having an academic degree, lower economic status, being an Arab woman, poorer physical health, lower levels of optimism and cognitive reappraisal, higher levels of emotion suppression and COVID-19-related anxieties all contributed significantly to greater psychological distress. Finally, ethnicity moderated the relationship between optimism and emotion suppression and the woman's level of psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: The findings reveal risk and resilience factors associated with the psychological distress of pregnant women during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight the potentially greater vulnerability of women from a minority group, showing that ethnicity plays a central role in the way personal resources are related to psychological distress at such times.

COVID-19-related anxieties in first-time mothers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and after 6 months: A descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: The changes accompanying the transition to motherhood, joined by the stress aroused by the COVID-19 pandemic, may lead to high levels of parental anxieties. This study, conducted in two phases-in the midst of the first wave of the pandemic and after six months-explores differences in the level of COVID-19-related anxieties of Israeli mothers in their first year of parenthood. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study carried out with 198 first-time mothers aged 22-48 who completed self-report questionnaires on April 2020 and again on October 2020. The questionnaire was distributed through social networks and included a demographic scale and the COVID-19-related anxieties questionnaire. FINDINGS: In the first phase, mothers reported higher anxieties concerning economic damage (M = 3.42; 3.11), being in public places (M = 4.34; M = 3.51), using public transportation (M = 4.80; M = 4.31), and going for infant checkups (M = 4.13; M = 3.06). In the second phase, mothers reported higher anxiety about being infected (M = 3.19; M = 3.48). DISCUSSION: The results suggest the need to be attentive to the double stress of new mothers in a dynamic time of crisis, especially at the beginning of the crisis when anxiety levels may be highest. APPLICATION TO PRACTICE: The findings may aid in developing interventions for new mothers in times of crisis. The finding that the COVID-19-related anxieties of new mothers may decrease over time points to the urgency of making interventions by health and medical professionals available to women in the first months after the birth of their first child.

The experience of mothering a preterm: a prolonged crisis with the potential for personal growth.

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND: The nine months of pregnancy allow mothers to plan for the birth of their child practically and emotionally. A very preterm birth, which is generally unexpected and requires the infant's stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), is perceived as a crisis by most mothers. This study sought to investigate the significance for the mother of the combined experience of a very preterm birth and the infant's stay in the NICU two-three years after the birth. METHODS: Using qualitative methodology, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 mothers (age 26-44) whose infants were born at 24-32 weeks. The analysis adopted the approach of multi-level listening to the diverse voices of the interviewees. RESULTS: Four core themes emerged: negative feelings about the preterm birth; the NICU experience as a crisis; long-term effects of the very preterm birth and NICU experience; personal growth following the preterm birth and NICU. DISCUSSION: In view of the findings, we discuss the meaning of the circumstances surrounding preterm birth on motherhood, and offer recommendations for practitioners.

Personal growth in early pregnancy: the role of perceived stress and emotion regulation.

OBJECTIVE: Coping with the stress aroused by early pregnancy can not only result in distress, but may constitute an opportunity to experience personal growth. Relying on the model of posttraumatic growth, this study examined the contribution of perceived stress and emotion regulation to women's personal growth during the first trimester of pregnancy. METHOD: A convenience sample of Israeli women (n=170), who were during their first trimester of pregnancy (up to 13 weeks), over 18 years old, and capable to completing the instruments in Hebrew, were recruited through a women's health clinic and through social media during the years 2017-2019. RESULTS: The findings indicate that primiparous mothers report higher personal growth than multiparous. In addition, younger age, being primiparous, and higher cognitive-reappraisal contributed to greater personal growth. Moreover, a curvilinear association was found between perceived stress and personal growth, so that a medium level of stress was associated with the highest level of growth. Finally, cognitive-reappraisal fully mediated the relationship between perceived stress and personal growth. CONCLUSIONS: The findings add to the growing body of knowledge concerning the implications of early pregnancy in general, and personal growth as a result of dealing with the stress typical of this period in particular and highlight the role of the perceived stress as well as the woman's personal characteristics and resources that contribute to this result.

A comparison of COVID-19 vaccination status among pregnant Israeli Jewish and Arab women and psychological distress among the Arab women.

The public debate surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine is especially intense regarding pregnant women, who are concerned with its effects on themselves and their fetus, and a vulnerable at-risk population for psychological distress. We aimed at describing differences in vaccination status between pregnant Jewish and Arab women and understanding factors contributing to psychological distress among Arab women. Pregnant women (n = 860) aged 19-46 completed self-report questionnaires during the national vaccination program (March-April 2021). The questionnaires related to background, COVID-19-related vaccination status and intentions in this regard, COVID-19-related anxiety, and the Mental Health Inventory-Short Form. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t- and chi-square tests, Pearson correlations, and a hierarchical regression. Considerably fewer Jewish women had been infected and more were vaccinated than Arab women. Poorer health, lower economic status, being a mother, not being vaccinated, higher anxiety over economic damage, a family member being infected, delivery, and raising the baby contributed to higher distress. Findings offer novel insights for nurses in their efforts to encourage vaccination, highlighting the need to understand women's concerns during the vulnerable period of pregnancy.

Parenthood in the shadow of COVID-19: The contribution of gender, personal resources and anxiety to first time parents' perceptions of the infant.

We sought to examine new parents' perceptions of their infant during the worldwide spread of COVID-19, exploring the contribution of gender, personal resources (attachment orientation, presence of meaning in life and intolerance of uncertainty) and COVID-19-related anxieties. A convenience sample of 606 Israeli first-time parents (137 fathers and 469 mothers), whose child was 3-12 months old, was recruited through social media during April 2020. Findings indicate that being a woman, younger age, lower education, better physical health, older infant's age, lower attachment anxiety, higher presence of meaning in life and greater COVID-19-related anxiety over the infant's health contributed significantly to a greater perception of infant's warmth; being a father, higher education and economic status, poorer physical health, higher attachment anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty and less presence of meaning in life contributed significantly to a greater perception of infant's invasiveness. Gender moderated the associations between the personal resources and infant's perception, and both the presence of meaning in life and intolerance of uncertainty mediated the associations between COVID-19-related anxieties and parent's perception of the infant. The findings reveal the crucial contribution of gender, and both risk and resilience factors, to the parent's perception of the infant in the shadow of COVID-19.

Jewish and Arab pregnant women's psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: the contribution of personal resources.

OBJECTIVE: The study sought to examine the psychological distress of Israeli pregnant women during the worldwide spread of COVID-19. As Israel has a diverse cultural-religious population, the sample included both Jewish and Arab women, allowing us to explore the differences between them. Furthermore, we examined the contribution of personal resources, both internal (self-mastery and resilience) and external (perceived social support), as well as the level of infection-related anxiety to the women's psychological distress. METHOD: A convenience sample of 403 Israeli women (233 Jewish and 170 Arab) was recruited through social media. RESULTS: Arab women reported significantly higher infection-related anxiety and psychological distress than Jewish women. In addition, Jewish women reported significantly higher self-mastery than Arab pregnant women. Finally, poorer health, being an Arab woman, and lower levels of self-mastery, resilience, and perceived social support, as well as a higher level of infection-related anxiety, contributed significantly to greater psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that pregnant women in general may be at risk of psychological distress in times of crisis, and that minority populations in particular may be at greater risk than others. Moreover, the results highlight the contribution of women's personal and environmental resources in the face of crisis, an understanding that may be used in targeted interventions to reduce distress in vulnerable populations.

Personal growth of single mothers by choice in the transition to motherhood: a comparative study.

Objective: In view of the heightened stress that might accompany a woman's decision to have a child on her own, we examined the experience of personal growth following the transition to motherhood of single mothers by choice and a comparison group of mothers in a couple relationship. We also examined the contribution of attachment style, resilience, and perceived social support to mothers' personal growth.Method: The sample consisted of 152 first-time Israeli mothers aged 28-48 whose children were no older than two. Of them, 76 were single mothers by choice and 76 were in a couple relationship.Results: Single mothers reported higher personal growth and less support from a significant other than mothers in a relationship. In addition, higher age, better economic status, and being a single mother contributed significantly to personal growth. Furthermore, among mothers in a relationship, higher growth was associated with more perceived support from the family, whereas among single mothers, it was associated with more perceived support from a significant other.Conclusion: The results highlight the potential of single mothers by choice to experience personal growth in the transition to motherhood, and the prominent role of support from a significant other in facilitating this experience.

Meaning in Life among New Mothers before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Mothers' Marital Satisfaction and Perception of the Infant.

On the assumption that existential questions may arise in the face of the transition to motherhood in the shadow of a global crisis, we sought to compare the levels of presence of meaning and search for meaning in life between two samples of new mothers: one recruited before the outbreak of COVID-19, and the other during the pandemic. In addition, we examined the associations between mother's marital satisfaction and perception of the infant on the one hand, and the two aspects of meaning in life on the other, investigating whether these variables mediate the link between research group and meaning in life. The results indicate that mothers reported significantly higher perception of infant's warmth and presence of meaning before than during the pandemic. Furthermore, they displayed greater marital satisfaction and more search for meaning during the pandemic than prior to it. For the whole sample, higher marital satisfaction and perception of infant's warmth were related to higher presence of meaning, and lower marital satisfaction and perception of the infant's invasiveness were related to higher search for meaning. Finally, mother's marital satisfaction and perception of the infant fully mediated the relationship between the research group and the two aspects of meaning in life. These findings are significant in that they provide, for the first time, evidence of changes in meaning in life among new mothers in a crisis situation, along with the importance of their perceptions of their relationships with the infant and spouse under these circumstances.

Early Maternal Caregiving: A Conceptualization of Maternal Compassion Preoccupation.

The literature refers extensively to the ramifications of the mother's care on her infant. However, little attention has been paid to the effects of maternal caregiving on the emotional experience of the mother herself. Using grounded theory methodology, we sought to contribute to fill this gap, and conducted open indepth interviews with 20 Israeli mothers of infants up to 3 months of age. Three core categories emerged from the interviews: Difficulty, Pleasure and Satisfaction, and Concern for Personal Needs. We found these categories to parallel three theoretical concepts relating to caregivers in general: compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and self-compassion. Consequently, we propose a new inclusive theoretical concept termed Maternal Compassion Preoccupation. The findings and conceptualization can contribute to the theoretical knowledge associated with early maternal caregiving, and to a new perspective on interventions aimed at helping women to cope with the high care demands of early motherhood.

Intergenerational relations, circumstances, and changes in mothers' marital quality during two years following childbirth.

In this study, the researchers examined, from an attachment theory perspective, changes in mothers' (n = 707) perception of the marital relationship over the course of the two years following childbirth. We found a decline in perceived quality of mothers' marital relationship over time, as well as several significant associations between birth circumstances (assisted reproductive technology, first/non-first baby), insecure attachment, and certain forms of support from the grandmothers on the one hand, and marital quality immediately after childbirth and over time on the other. Some forms of support served as partial mediators between attachment orientation and marital quality. We believe that the current findings can assist in designing interventions aimed at improving the spousal relationship after childbirth and decreasing potential stressors for both parents and newborns.

Distress and anxiety associated with COVID-19 among Jewish and Arab pregnant women in Israel.

INTRODUCTION: The fact that little is yet known about the possible implications of COVID-19 for pregnancy, puts pregnant women at greater risk of heightened anxiety and psychological distress. In this study, we sought to explore the psychological distress and COVID-19-related anxiety of pregnant women during the crisis. METHODS: Israeli Jewish and Arab pregnant women (n = 336) aged 20-47 completed a set of questionnaires during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. RESULTS: The levels of all COVID-19-related anxieties were quite high (much or very much), with the highest regarding public places and transportation (87.5%, 70%, respectively), followed by concerns over the possible infection of other family members and the health of the foetus (71.7%, 70%, respectively), going for pregnancy check-ups (68.7%,), being infected themselves, and the delivery (59.2%, 55.4%, respectively). Although COVID-19-related anxieties were shared by pregnant women characterised by diverse sociodemographic variables, with very small nuances, Arab women were more anxious about each of the issues than Jewish women. DISCUSSION: Our findings highlight the importance of assessing anxiety and distress in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the need to be attentive to the double stress of pregnant women in times of crisis and to the potential vulnerability of subgroups, such as cultural minorities.

Validation of the Hebrew Birth Satisfaction Scale - Revised (BSS-R) and its relationship to perceived traumatic labour.

Objective and background: The Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R) is a multi-dimensional measure which is recommended by international clinical guidelines for global use as the birth satisfaction outcome measure of choice. The current investigation sought to develop a Hebrew version of the BSS-R for use in the Jewish-Israeli context and examine the relationship between BSS-R domains and the perception of the experience of labour as traumatic.Methods: Following review, translation, and back-translation for linguistic equivalence, a Hebrew version of the BSS-R (H-BSS-R) was prepared and psychometrically evaluated using key indices of validity and reliability. Complete multivariate normal data from 288 first-time Jewish Israeli mothers within two years after childbirth was entered into the analysis.Results: The H-BSS-R was found to have a good fit to the BSS-R tridimensional measurement model, excellent internal consistency, divergent and known-group discriminant validity. Moreover, women who experienced their labour as traumatic had significantly lower H-BSS-R subscale scores than women who reported that their birth experience was non-traumatic.Conclusion: The H-BSS-R is a robust and valid measure suitable for use with Jewish-Israeli women, as well as for investigating the relationship between traumatic labour and birth satisfaction.

Secondary traumatization and personal growth of healthcare teams in maternity and neonatal wards: The role of differentiation of self and social support.

It is of utmost importance to examine the consequences of healthcare teams' daily exposure to stress. This quantitative cross-sectional study examined the connection between exposure, secondary traumatization (stress deriving from helping suffering others), and personal growth. It compared the teams in maternity and neonatal wards with colleagues exposed to different levels of illness and death and examined the contribution of social support and self-differentiation to personal growth. One hundred forty-nine Israeli physicians and nurses participated, comprising three groups (maternity and neonatal wards, exposed to suffering as well as to new life; high; and moderate-to-low exposure to illness and death). Data were collected through an online program (64.78% response rate). Whereas no group differences in secondary traumatization were found, personal growth was higher among individuals from maternity and neonatal wards. The higher the social support and self-differentiation, the higher was the personal growth. The findings highlight the necessity to design interventions to empower social support and investing in its development on both the organizational and personal level, especially for the maternity and neonatal wards' healthcare teams.

Pre-term delivery, optimism and initial personal growth as predictors of mothers' long-term personal growth.

Introduction: Positive outcomes in the aftermath of childbirth have increasingly been studied in the last decade. However, most of the studies concentrate on short-term outcomes. The current study examined the perceived personal growth of mothers four years after childbirth, investigating the contribution of the event characteristics (full-term/pre-term birth), internal resources (optimism, self-esteem) and personal growth as measured one year after the birth. Methods: Mothers (n=259) participated in the study by completing a set of self-report questionnaires one and four years following the birth of their child/ren. Results: Personal growth after four years was found to be higher among mothers of pre-terms than of full-terms, and higher four years after the birth than it had been three years earlier. Furthermore, regression analysis indicated the significant contributions of being a mother to pre-term baby/ies, optimism and personal growth one year after the birth to women's personal growth three years later. Discussion: The results highlight the potential long-term effects of giving birth to a pre-term baby on personal growth, as well as the contribution of optimism as an important internal resource. They also indicate the development of personal growth over time. Explanations for the findings are offered and their practical implications are discussed.