RESUMEN
This qualitative study explored the mortality salience effect as it manifested in the dreams of Israelis in the aftermath of the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023, and during the ensuing war. Over a two-month period, a sample of 242 dreams was collected via an online survey. Two forms of thematic analysis, namely, inductive and deductive, were utilized. Viewed through the theoretical lens of terror management theory, the findings suggest that exposure to the attack's horrors and the resulting strong mortality salience were reflected in the participants' dream contents. This indicates that the anxiety-buffering roles of the three psychological coping mechanisms-cultural worldviews, self-esteem, and close personal relationships-have been compromised. The examination of collective dream content offers a glimpse into subtle human psychic processes and how they might be affected during times of national trauma that necessitate robust psychological mechanisms to cope with the heightened mortality salience.
RESUMEN
Considering the need to gain a deeper understanding of the protective factors associated with coping with food insecurity, specifically in times of severe prolonged stress, the current longitudinal study seeks to examine the role of optimism in the relationship between food insecurity and adverse mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. A three-wave longitudinal study involving 1921 Israeli adults was performed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed questionnaires assessing food insecurity, anxiety, depression, optimism, and socio-demographic characteristics. To explore the relationship between food insecurity and symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as the moderating role of optimism in this relationship, we employed a set of panel regression models with individual fixed effects. Our results indicate that the degree and change in food insecurity over time were positively associated with both anxiety and depression symptoms, whereas the degree and change in optimism were negatively correlated. Optimism was found to moderate the association between food insecurity and anxiety symptoms over time, but not the association between food insecurity and depression symptoms. A subgroup analysis revealed that optimism moderated the relationship between food insecurity and anxiety and depression for women, but not for men; for married/coupled individuals but not for singles; for non-parents with regard to anxiety, and for parents with regard to depression. Our results highlight the need to practice and enhance optimism in times of great despair, uncertainty, and hardship, especially in situations of food insecurity where tangible change may take time.
RESUMEN
Self-isolation and quarantine are common and effective measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. However, it may have detrimental implications on young children's adaptation and mental health. The present study explores the prevalence of home quarantines among young children in Israel and their associations with children's maladaptive behaviors. The analysis is based on self-reported data obtained by 374 parents of young children in November 2021. Participants completed questionnaires, assessing the prevalence of home quarantines among children (aged 3-11 years old), and maladaptive behaviors, including rage outbursts, physical violence against family or friends, and panic attacks. Multivariate regression models were used to determine the relationships between the number of child quarantines and their maladaptive behaviors. Our results suggest that 51% of parents reported having their child quarantined more than once, which did not differ across socioeconomic characteristics. Furthermore, 66% of parents reported that during the pandemic, their child exhibited maladaptive behaviors at least once. Children who were quarantined more than once were more likely to exhibit rage outbursts, physical violence, and/or panic attacks. The associations between children's quarantine and physical violence were slightly stronger among families living in high-density households. Repeated experiences of home quarantine may operate as exposure to accumulative risk and have a lasting effect on young children's development. Practice and policy recommendations for interventions for young children and their families who experience home quarantines are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).