Coping and Meaning in Times of War
In my recent studies in Israel following the October 2023 attacks and the ensuing war, I examined the psychological and existential responses of evacuees and non-evacuees living under prolonged threat. The findings revealed that while traumatic exposure markedly reduced physical quality of life, it simultaneously evoked strong coping efforts—particularly problem-focused strategies directed toward others, such as helping and collaborative problem-solving. At the core of these adaptive responses was meaning in life, which emerged as a pivotal determinant of overall well-being.
Thus, resilience in contexts of war and displacement is not merely a process of recovering from trauma, but a continuing reconstruction of purpose and agency, deeply anchored in cultural values and social connectedness.
Two main papers have been published from this project:
Sarid, O., Hamama, L., & Hamama-Raz, Y. (2025). Coping, Meaning in Life, and Quality of Life During Ongoing Conflict: Insights from Israeli Populations. Israel Journal of Health Policy Research, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13584-024-00665-1
Hamama, L., Sarid, O., & Hamama-Raz, Y. (2025). Psychological Distress, Resources, and Coping Strategies Among Evacuees and Non-Evacuees from an Armed Conflict Zone: A Network Analysis. Stress & Health, 41(1), e3525. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.3525
Building on these studies, my colleagues and I recently received a national research grant from The Israel National Institute for Health Policy Research to examine evacuees one to two years after their displacement, to track long-term changes in coping, meaning, and well-being over time.
Nature, Meaning, and Climate-Related Stress
In my recent work, I have been exploring mechanisms to enhance meaning in life through engagement with nature. Extending my inquiry beyond human conflict, my latest international study investigated the existential and emotional dimensions of the climate crisis. Conducted among Jewish Australians, the research examined how connection to nature (nature-relatedness) fosters meaning in life and psychological well-being, and how these relationships vary across gender and cultural tradition. Rooted in Jewish traditions of stewardship and renewal, this connection transforms environmental anxiety into purpose and hope. Positioned at the intersection of environmental psychology, existential theory, and cultural identity, my work highlights nature connection as an existential resource that supports meaning-making and mitigates climate-related distress.
Building on this foundation, my students are examining these links between nature-relatedness, meaning, and emotional recovery in the aftermath of the Iron Swords War. This ongoing project investigates how connection to nature can facilitate healing offering new insights into how environmental engagement may help individuals and communities restore balance and meaning following collective trauma.
Sarid, O. (2025). Climate Crisis and Mental Well-Being: Nature Relatedness, Meaning in Life, and Gender Differences in a Jewish Australian Study. Behavioral Sciences, 15(8), 1045. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15081045
Developing Psychological Interventions to reduce stress- short term cognitive behavior intervention
In my research on promoting women’s health under conditions of stress and infertility, my colleagues and I developed an integrative approach combining cognitive-behavioural methods to reduce stress before IVF interventions. We integrated this approach with art-based techniques CB-ART. This approach formed the basis for interventions with women undergoing IVF treatment.
In response to earlier wars in Israel, the method combined the drawing of stressful images with resource-oriented drawing, leading to significant decreases in perceived stress. We later adapted this method to a digital format, enabling online practice during COVID-19 lockdowns and among other populations confined to their homes demonstrating a substantial reduction in stress responses.
Psychological Interventions to reduce stress in Crohn’s Disease
In my long-standing collaboration with colleagues in medicine, immunology, and health sciences, I have developed and evaluated a brief cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based intervention designed to alleviate distress and improve outcomes among individuals living with Crohn’s disease.
The COBMINDEX approach bridges psychological and biomedical models, showing that psychological flexibility and emotional regulation serve as central pathways to healing. Through consistent daily practice, patients strengthen these skills, achieving greater emotional resilience and physiological balance alongside biomedical treatment. These findings show that when individuals learn to reinterpret and manage their stress responses, measurable physiological, immunological and medical benefits follow.
