Attachment to Group and Mental Health Following the October 7th Attack: The Mediating Role of Meaning in Life and Intolerance of Uncertainty
Attachment theory, originally developed to explain interpersonal relationships, may also be relevant to understanding the psychological aspects of group belonging. Accordingly, the current study examined the role of attachment to Israel as a group of belonging in shaping mental health outcomes among...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/879 |
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| author | Yitshak Alfasi Avi Besser |
| author_facet | Yitshak Alfasi Avi Besser |
| author_sort | Yitshak Alfasi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Attachment theory, originally developed to explain interpersonal relationships, may also be relevant to understanding the psychological aspects of group belonging. Accordingly, the current study examined the role of attachment to Israel as a group of belonging in shaping mental health outcomes among Israeli citizens following the October 7th attack, focusing on psychological mechanisms involving meaning in life and intolerance of uncertainty. A sample of 1179 participants completed an online survey assessing attachment to Israel, sense of meaning in life, intolerance of uncertainty, and mental health. Path analysis revealed that attachment to Israel was positively associated with better mental health, both directly and indirectly through two key mechanisms: a stronger sense of meaning in life and lower intolerance of uncertainty. Specifically, attachment to Israel was positively associated with meaning in life, which, in turn, was significantly linked to enhanced mental well-being. Moreover, attachment to Israel was associated with lower intolerance of uncertainty, which was also positively correlated with improved mental health. These findings demonstrate that a strong attachment to Israel can enhance mental health by fostering a sense of meaning in life and reducing uncertainty. The implications of these findings are discussed within the frameworks of existential psychology, social identity theory, and attachment theory. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8a2eba1831674fee826860f798605dfa |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-8a2eba1831674fee826860f798605dfa2025-08-20T03:36:15ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-06-0115787910.3390/bs15070879Attachment to Group and Mental Health Following the October 7th Attack: The Mediating Role of Meaning in Life and Intolerance of UncertaintyYitshak Alfasi0Avi Besser1Department of Behavioral Sciences, Interdisciplinary Faculty for Science, Health and Society, Jerusalem Multidisciplinary College, Jerusalem 91010, IsraelDepartment of Communication Disorders, Interdisciplinary Faculty for Society and Community, Jerusalem Multidisciplinary College, Jerusalem 91010, IsraelAttachment theory, originally developed to explain interpersonal relationships, may also be relevant to understanding the psychological aspects of group belonging. Accordingly, the current study examined the role of attachment to Israel as a group of belonging in shaping mental health outcomes among Israeli citizens following the October 7th attack, focusing on psychological mechanisms involving meaning in life and intolerance of uncertainty. A sample of 1179 participants completed an online survey assessing attachment to Israel, sense of meaning in life, intolerance of uncertainty, and mental health. Path analysis revealed that attachment to Israel was positively associated with better mental health, both directly and indirectly through two key mechanisms: a stronger sense of meaning in life and lower intolerance of uncertainty. Specifically, attachment to Israel was positively associated with meaning in life, which, in turn, was significantly linked to enhanced mental well-being. Moreover, attachment to Israel was associated with lower intolerance of uncertainty, which was also positively correlated with improved mental health. These findings demonstrate that a strong attachment to Israel can enhance mental health by fostering a sense of meaning in life and reducing uncertainty. The implications of these findings are discussed within the frameworks of existential psychology, social identity theory, and attachment theory.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/879attachmentattachment to groupmental healthmeaning in lifeintolerance of uncertainty |
| spellingShingle | Yitshak Alfasi Avi Besser Attachment to Group and Mental Health Following the October 7th Attack: The Mediating Role of Meaning in Life and Intolerance of Uncertainty Behavioral Sciences attachment attachment to group mental health meaning in life intolerance of uncertainty |
| title | Attachment to Group and Mental Health Following the October 7th Attack: The Mediating Role of Meaning in Life and Intolerance of Uncertainty |
| title_full | Attachment to Group and Mental Health Following the October 7th Attack: The Mediating Role of Meaning in Life and Intolerance of Uncertainty |
| title_fullStr | Attachment to Group and Mental Health Following the October 7th Attack: The Mediating Role of Meaning in Life and Intolerance of Uncertainty |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attachment to Group and Mental Health Following the October 7th Attack: The Mediating Role of Meaning in Life and Intolerance of Uncertainty |
| title_short | Attachment to Group and Mental Health Following the October 7th Attack: The Mediating Role of Meaning in Life and Intolerance of Uncertainty |
| title_sort | attachment to group and mental health following the october 7th attack the mediating role of meaning in life and intolerance of uncertainty |
| topic | attachment attachment to group mental health meaning in life intolerance of uncertainty |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/879 |
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