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Is terror gender-blind? Gender differences in reaction to terror events

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

This study examines gender differences in posttraumatic vulnerability in the face of the terror attacks that occurred during the Al-Aqsa Intifada. In addition, the contribution of level of exposure, sense of safety, self-efficacy, and coping strategies is assessed.

Method

Participants were 250 men and 262 women, who constitute a representative sample of Israel's adult population. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire consisting of 51 items that were drawn from several questionnaires widely used in the study of trauma.

Results

The findings indicate that women endorsed posttraumatic and depressive symptoms more than men and that, generally, their odds of developing posttraumatic stress symptoms are six times higher than those of men. Results also revealed that women's sense of safety and self-efficacy are lower than men's and that there are gender differences in coping strategies in the face of terror.

Conclusions

Gender differences in vulnerability to terror may be attributable to a number of factors, among these are women's higher sense of threat and lower self-efficacy, as well as their tendency to use less effective coping strategies than men. Level of exposure to terror was ruled out as a possible explanation for the gender differences in vulnerability.

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Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Danny Horesh for his help in preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bob Shappel School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel

    Zahava Solomon PhD

  2. Adler Research Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Zahava Solomon PhD

  3. Lev Hasharon Mental Health Center, Netanya, Israel

    Marc Gelkopf PhD

  4. Sackler School of Medicine and Natal: The Israel Trauma Center for Victims of Terror, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Avraham Bleich MD

Authors
  1. Zahava Solomon PhD
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  2. Marc Gelkopf PhD
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  3. Avraham Bleich MD
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Solomon, Z., Gelkopf, M. & Bleich, A. Is terror gender-blind? Gender differences in reaction to terror events. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 40, 947–954 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-005-0973-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-005-0973-3

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