Does home attachment contribute to strengthen sense of coherence in times of war? Perspectives of Jewish Israeli mothers

Women Health. 2015;55(4):467-83. doi: 10.1080/03630242.2015.1022688. Epub 2015 Mar 24.

Abstract

The perceptions of home, the significance attached to the home, and the reasons for the decision to continue living at home despite past and potentially future threats were investigated among Jewish Israeli mothers whose homes were exposed to long-term rocket attacks. Findings showed that the mothers expressed a firm attachment to their homes and to their physical and social surroundings and indicated that home attachment, in terms of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connected to home, contributed to the strengthening of their sense of coherence due to the comprehension, management, and the meaning that they accorded the situation. These components of sense of coherence served as assets and coping resources that helped the women handle their stressful situations.

Keywords: Israel; home attachment; mothers; political violence; qualitative research; sense of coherence.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Israel
  • Jews / psychology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mothers / psychology*
  • Politics
  • Qualitative Research
  • Sense of Coherence*
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Violence
  • Warfare*