The Contribution of Maternal Care and Control to Adolescents’ Adjustment Following War

This study examined the contribution of maternal bonding to the adjustment of Israeli adolescents following the 2006 Lebanon War. In all, 2,858 seventh and eighth graders who lived in areas that were exposed to missile attacks completed the Parental Bonding Instrument (assessing maternal care and control) and questionnaires evaluating post-traumatic stress (PTS), psychological distress, and life satisfaction. Beyond the contribution of war exposure, maternal control was associated with adolescents’ greater distress, more PTS symptoms, and lower life satisfaction. Maternal care contributed to adolescents’ lower distress and greater life satisfaction. Furthermore, maternal care moderated the association between adolescents’ war exposure and their distress: Among adolescents who were highly exposed to war, those who perceived their mothers as less caring exhibited greater distress than equally traumatized adolescents who perceived their mothers as more caring. The discussion deals with the findings in light of the literature regarding parenting and trauma.