A new study sheds light on the profound challenges faced by mothers of young children in maintaining health-promoting activities (HPA) following man-made disasters, including terrorist attacks. Conducted by Shahar Zaguri-Vittenberg, Anat Golos, and Jennifer Budman from School of Occupational Therapy in the Hebrew University, the research provides critical insights into the experiences of Israeli mothers in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks.

The study, published in Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, reveals a significant decline in maternal participation in HPAs—activities that support physical, emotional, and social well-being—in the wake of the attacks. The findings emphasize the importance of social support in mitigating the negative impacts of disaster exposure, offering valuable guidance for disaster response and community health planning.

Key Findings:
Decreased Participation in Health-Promoting Activities: Most surveyed mothers reported reduced frequency and perceived competence in engaging in HPAs post-disaster, with disaster exposure strongly correlating to these declines.

Social Support as a Protective Factor: Social support moderated the effect of disaster exposure, helping mothers maintain a sense of competence in their participation.

Barriers and Enablers: Through qualitative analysis, four key themes emerged:
Consequences of Disaster Exposure: Emotional, cognitive, social, physical, and institutional factors that hinder participation.
External Resources: Availability of social, community and institutional support.
Life-Role Overload: Competing demands from caregiving and other responsibilities.
Adaptive Thinking: Strategies mothers employed to cope and prioritize self-care, while aligning with their values and fostering feelings of self-compassion, acceptance, and gratitude.

Clinical and Policy Implications
The research underscores the vulnerabilities of mothers as primary caregivers during crises. “Disasters place enormous physical and emotional burdens on mothers of young children, limiting their ability to care for themselves,” the authors explained. “Our findings highlight the need for targeted interventions that prioritize maternal health and well-being while strengthening social support systems.”

These findings have important implications for policymakers and health professionals, urging them to:

• Develop community-based support networks that address the unique challenges mothers face post-disaster.
• Implement early intervention programs aimed at enhancing maternal resilience and promoting HPAs.
• Allocate resources to ensure equitable access to mental health and social services for families in disaster-affected areas.

This study marks an essential step toward understanding how man-made disasters impact maternal health and participation in daily activities. As disasters continue to rise globally, these insights are critical for fostering resilience and community well-being.

About the Study
The research involved 201 Israeli mothers of children aged 0-12, who completed an online survey within a month of the October 2023 terror attacks. The survey captured data on disaster exposure, maternal participation in HPAs, and social support, as well as qualitative insights into factors enabling or hindering participation.