The role of social support in moderating anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms during the ‘swords of iron’ war in Israel

Abstract

Emotion-focused coping strategies, which aim to manage emotions rather than address stressors directly, are consistently linked to heightened psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic symptoms. In contrast, perceived social support acts as a protective factor, buffering individuals from these adverse effects by enhancing coping efficacy and psychological resilience. This study investigated whether perceived social support serves as a moderator in the link between emotion-focused coping styles psychological distress during the 2023 Israel-Gaza war. Using a cross-sectional design, 589 participants completed digital questionnaires measuring depression (PHQ), anxiety (GAD), PTSD symptoms (PCL-5), perceived social support (MSPSS), and coping styles (COPE). Multiple regression analyses assessed the association between emotion-focused coping and psychological distress, as well as the moderating effect of social support. A significant interaction emerged between emotion-focused coping strategies and perceived social support in predicting psychological distress (p