Abstract

This study examines the moderating role of parenthood in associations between personal and community resources and psychological distress and somatization following collective exposure to security threats. The research questions were guided by Terror Management Theory that posits that parenthood involves heightened anxiety when children are in danger yet may also provide an existential resource that can reduce the individuals’ distress. The study was conducted following the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict and included 1014 Israelis. The participants completed a questionnaire assessing levels of trauma exposure (the predictors), sense of mastery (personal resource), engagement in community activities and trust in leaders (community resources), and psychological distress and somatization (the outcomes). Results indicated that parenthood moderated several associations between trauma exposure and personal and community resources as well as paths between these resources and psychological distress. In almost all these cases, these paths were statistically significant only among parents in two different directions. Parenthood was associated with more psychological distress through lower sense of mastery and greater engagement in community activities. On the other hand, parenthood was related to lower psychological distress through greater trust in local leaders. In addition, only among parents, lower levels of mastery mediated the association between trauma exposure and somatization. These results offer significant implications for practitioners. Although parents and non-parents can be similarly affected by trauma exposure with respect to trauma-related outcomes, the way to assist them to reduce these negative outcomes should be conducted through different paths involving their personal and community resources.

中文翻译：

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为人父母如何调节个人和社区资源与集体创伤后的痛苦之间的路径？

摘要

本研究探讨了在集体暴露于安全威胁后，父母身份在个人和社区资源与心理困扰和躯体化之间的关联中的调节作用。研究问题以恐怖管理理论为指导，该理论认为，当孩子处于危险之中时，为人父母会加剧焦虑，但也可能提供一种可以减少个人痛苦的存在资源。该研究是在 2014 年以色列-加沙冲突之后进行的，包括 1014 名以色列人。参与者完成了一份评估创伤暴露水平（预测因素）、掌控感（个人资源）、参与社区活动和对领导者的信任（社区资源）以及心理困扰和躯体化（结果）的问卷。结果表明，为人父母调节了创伤暴露与个人和社区资源之间的多种关联，以及这些资源与心理困扰之间的路径。在几乎所有这些案例中，这些路径仅在两个不同方向的父母中具有统计显着性。通过较低的掌握感和更多地参与社区活动，为人父母与更多的心理困扰有关。另一方面，通过对地方领导人的​​更大信任，为人父母与降低心理压力有关。此外，只有在父母中，较低水平的掌握介导了创伤暴露与躯体化之间的关联。这些结果对从业者具有重要意义。