METHOD: A cross-sectional design was employed approximately three months after a major military escalation. A stratified proportional sample of 343 Iranian mothers (aged 24 years and older) with at least one child aged 5-10 years living in conflict-affected areas completed validated self-report measures. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).
RESULTS: The extends model explained substantial variance in maternal anxiety (R ² = .80) and child anxiety (R ² = .72). War-related stressors were significantly and positively associated with both maternal anxiety and child anxiety. In addition, maternal anxiety was significantly associated with child anxiety. Challenge appraisal, problem-focused coping, and cognitive restructuring mediated the relationship between war-related stressors and maternal anxiety. Emotion-focused coping positively mediated the relationship between war-related stressors and child anxiety. Religiosity and social support were found to buffer the association between war-related stressors and maternal anxiety, such that higher levels of religiosity and social support weakened the positive relationship between war-related stressors and anxiety among mothers.
CONCLUSIONS: This study extends the transactional model of stress and coping by supporting an integrated framework within a conflict-affected Middle Eastern population. The findings indicate distinct pathways linking war-related stressors to maternal and child anxiety and highlight the importance of interventions that address cognitive appraisal, strengthen adaptive coping strategies, and mobilize spiritual and social resources in conflict-affected families.