Personal Growth Among Pregnant Women During War: The Role of Optimism and Meaning in Life

Abstract

Pregnancy is both a joyful and a challenging period that involves emotional and physical concerns, which can be exacerbated during a crisis event such as war, elevating the risk for post-traumatic symptoms. However, stressful circumstances also constitute the opportunity to experience personal growth, which has been hardly examined among pregnant women. This study investigated the contribution of post-traumatic symptoms, optimism, meaning in life (presence and search for meaning) and pregnancy-related characteristics and concerns to personal growth. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 175 pregnant women aged 20–45 (M = 31.19, SD = 5.16), who were recruited through convenience sampling. They completed a series of self-report questionnaires during the first month of the Israel-Hamas war. Better economic status, higher optimism and greater search for meaning were associated with higher personal growth. Higher post-traumatic symptoms were related to higher personal growth, mainly among younger women. The findings provide unique evidence for pregnant women's personal growth, even in the shadow of wartime and highlight the need for professionals to focus primarily on women's psychological resources during pregnancy, especially during crises, encouraging optimism and discussing issues of meaning in life.