Recurrent Evacuation in a Shared Continuous Wartime Situation: The Parental Perspective

Objective: Although the mental health impacts of continuous traumatic situations (CTS) on parents and their children are well-documented, and the essential role parents play in helping their children cope with trauma is recognized, there is limited understanding of parental coping strategies in the context of war-related shared CTS. This study addresses this gap by exploring parents’ subjective perceptions of coping and the strategies they employ to manage their family lives amid ongoing rocket attacks and related evacuations. Method: Thematic analysis of responses to an online qualitative survey of 71 parents of young children (ages 0–12) in rural communities along Israel’s border with Gaza was employed. The survey was administered shortly after a brief military conflict. All participants reported evacuating their homes during the conflict. Results: Coping with war-related shared CTS was complex and unsettling. The main challenges involved managing life amid frequent transitions between emergency situations and routine. Parental coping experiences included (a) a strong focus on creating and maintaining routines, (b) dissonance between their inner thoughts and feelings and the external reality, and (c) parental strategies for managing the family in an emergency. Conclusions: The findings can guide clinicians and policymakers in providing trauma-informed targeted support to parents in war-related shared CTS. Such support should facilitate transitions in three critical phases: intensified hostilities, evacuation, and returning home. By recognizing the distinct challenges faced by families during these phases, interventions can be tailored to strengthen family bonds, mitigate trauma, and enhance resilience.