Social Support as Resilience Factor in the Aftermath of October 7th Attack

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