Psychological impact of reserve duty on spouses: Anxiety, resilience, and sense of coherence among Israeli women during the 2023 Israel–HAMAS conflict

Following the October 7th 2023 HAMAS' attack, approximately 220,000 Israeli reservists were mobilized. This study examined anxiety among women whose partners were mobilized and assessed the protective roles of resilience, self-efficacy, and sense of coherence (SOC) as independent variables, in anxiety as a dependent variable. In a cross-sectional correlational design, 265 female partners completed validated instruments. Psychological variables were analyzed alongside demographic and contextual factors using correlation and moderation analyses. Seventy-five percent of participants scored above the severe-anxiety threshold. SOC and resilience showed significant inverse associations with anxiety, whereas self-efficacy was not significantly correlated. Within SOC, comprehensibility and manageability were each negatively related to anxiety, and meaningfulness was positively associated with selfefficacy. More frequent home visits by the deployed partners were linked to lower anxiety and higher self-efficacy. Women with children reported greater resilience and lower anxiety than those without children. These findings suggest that cognitive and instrumental components of SOC, together with resilience, help buffer distress in spouses of reservists under acute conflict conditions. Tailored psychosocial interventions that strengthen comprehensibility and manageability, bolster resilience, and facilitate contact with deployed partners may mitigate anxiety in this high-risk group. The null association for self-efficacy suggests confidence may be insufficient under sustained threat. Programs should prioritize screening, psychoeducation, and communication protocols between units and families, alongside parent-focused supports, to protect mental health during prolonged mobilizations and the transition to post-deployment. Longitudinal research is warranted to clarify causal pathways and inform targeted support.