Religiosity and political worldviews as protective factors during an ongoing national trauma

This study examined religiosity and political worldviews, specifically government support, as socio-cultural mechanisms that buffer anxiety and promote coping during an ongoing war. Drawing on Terror Management Theory (TMT) and Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, we hypothesized that these orientations would be associated with higher individual and collective coping: individual resilience, societal resilience, perceived social cohesion, and hope, and with lower psychological distress, as well as better preservation of these resources over time. Data were collected across seven waves during the Israel-Gaza war. Government supporters consistently reported higher individual and societal resilience, social cohesion, and hope, and lower distress compared to opponents. Religious participants showed higher societal resilience, social cohesion, and hope than secular participants, though differences in individual resilience and distress were smaller and inconsistent. These results suggest that religiosity and political support function as protective factors - anxiety buffers and resource systems, supporting TMT and COR predictions. Additionally, the stability of coping within these groups may reflect early stages of collective post-traumatic growth (CPTG), though further longitudinal data and direct measures are needed. Overall, the findings highlight how cultural worldviews and socio-political alignment shape resilience during protracted national trauma, offering insights into adaptive responses to sustained collective crises.