Social systems and personal reactions to threats of war and terror

This study examines the impact of social systems (i.e., marital quality, significant others' stress and community resilience) on individual reactions to the threat of war and terror resulting from Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon in May 2000. Quantitative results (N = 992) revealed that proximity to the threat of war influenced marital quality, community resilience, life satisfaction, and stress among significant others. Three social system variables mediate these relationships. Qualitative analysis (N = 50 couples) highlights the role of social variables in personal reaction to stress. Differences emerged, however, in the perceived direction of the causal effects. Similarities and differences between the methodologies are discussed, and theoretical models are suggested to explain the results.