Mothers' psychological distress in wartime: The roles of intolerance of uncertainty, parental self-efficacy, and optimism.

Abstract

In the present study, we examined psychological distress, specifically symptoms of depression and anxiety, among mothers of children aged 0-17 years during a prolonged period of war and armed conflict. Guided by Hobfoll's conservation of resources theory, we focused on personal characteristics and resources, exploring how intolerance of uncertainty, parental self-efficacy, and optimism predicted mothers' psychological distress. The study included 403 Israeli mothers who, over the past 2 years, experienced ongoing exposure to geopolitical violence and security threats, including the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, the Swords of Iron War, and the recent 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel. Participants completed online self-report questionnaires assessing anxiety, depression, intolerance of uncertainty, parental self-efficacy, and optimism. Results revealed that intolerance of uncertainty was indirectly linked to psychological distress through its effects on parental self-efficacy and optimism, highlighting the interconnected roles of these internal resources in shaping mothers' mental health during prolonged periods of stress and uncertainty. These findings underscore the importance of fostering parental self-efficacy and optimism to buffer the negative impact of intolerance of uncertainty on psychological distress during ongoing conflict. Findings are discussed in the context of conservation of resources theory, with implications for interventions that are likely applicable across cultures exposed to chronic threat and uncertainty. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).