The Moderating Role of Demoralization on the Association Between Exposure to War and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among Israeli Civilians in Reaction to the October 7 War: A Longitudinal Study

IF 3.2 3区心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Clinical psychology & psychotherapy Pub Date : 2024-12-02 DOI:10.1002/cpp.70021

Wafaa Sowan, Svetlana Baziliansky

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Abstract

Background

During wartime, many people experience distress, uncertainty, helplessness and a lack of control. These negative feelings are at the root of demoralization symptoms.

Objectives

The present prospective study examined the impact of exposure to war and demoralization symptoms on PTSS 6 months later.

Methods

Participants were 338 Israeli citizens with indirect war exposure. Participants answered questionnaires on exposure to war, demoralization and PTSS at two time points (4 weeks and 6 months after the onset of the October 7 war).

Results

The study revealed that higher exposure to war (Time 1) was associated with higher levels of demoralization symptoms (Time 1) and PTSS (Time 2). Moreover, the moderation analysis indicated that the impact of exposure to war on PTSS was significant only for medium (b = 4.279, SE = 1.33, p < 0.001) and high (b = 8.304, SE = 1.88, p < 0.001) levels of demoralization.

Conclusion

Demoralization symptoms and PTSS are likely to occur during wartime. However, war exposure alone does not explain PTSS; it is contingent on demoralization levels. Demoralization shortly following the outbreak of war appears to be a predictor of PTSS. This finding suggests that screening for demoralization with a brief simple questionnaire might be a useful clinical tool to identify individuals in the short term who may have increased risk of PTSD in the long term.

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10月7日战争后，士气低落对以色列平民战争暴露与创伤后应激症状之间关系的调节作用：一项纵向研究

在战争期间，许多人经历痛苦、不确定、无助和缺乏控制。这些消极情绪是士气低落症状的根源。目的本前瞻性研究探讨战争暴露和士气低落症状对创伤后应激障碍6个月后的影响。方法研究对象为338名间接战争暴露的以色列公民。参与者在两个时间点（10月7日战争爆发后4周和6个月）回答了关于战争暴露、士气低落和创伤后应激障碍的问卷。结果较高的战争暴露（时间1）与较高的士气低落症状（时间1）和创伤后应激障碍（时间2）相关。此外，适度分析表明，战争暴露对创伤后应激障碍的影响仅在中等（b = 4.279, SE = 1.33, p < 0.001）和高（b = 8.304, SE = 1.88, p < 0.001）士气低落水平时显著。结论战时易出现士气低落症状和创伤后应激障碍。然而，战争暴露本身并不能解释ptsd；这取决于士气低落的程度。战争爆发后不久的士气低落似乎是ptsd的一个预测因素。这一发现表明，用一份简短的简单问卷来筛查士气低落可能是一种有用的临床工具，可以在短期内识别出长期可能增加PTSD风险的个体。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Clinical psychology & psychotherapy PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

6.30

自引率

5.60%

发文量

106

期刊介绍： Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy aims to keep clinical psychologists and psychotherapists up to date with new developments in their fields. The Journal will provide an integrative impetus both between theory and practice and between different orientations within clinical psychology and psychotherapy. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy will be a forum in which practitioners can present their wealth of expertise and innovations in order to make these available to a wider audience. Equally, the Journal will contain reports from researchers who want to address a larger clinical audience with clinically relevant issues and clinically valid research.