In Whom Do Women and Men Trust? The Moderating Effects of Religiousness and Institutional Trust on the Association Between Exposure to War-Related Stress and Psychological Well-Being

This study investigates the moderating roles of religiousness and institutional trust on the associations between war-related stress and aspects of psychological well-being, with particular attention to gender differences. A large sample of Israeli adults (N = 1198; 614 women, 584 men) was surveyed during the early weeks of the 2023 Israel–Hamas War. Exposure to media-based war stress predicted symptoms of acute stress, depression, and anxiety. Regression-based moderation analyses revealed that among men, higher levels of institutional trust buffered the negative association between war stress and measures of psychological well-being, whereas religiousness had no significant moderation effects. Among women, religious belief and behavior intensified the association between war stress and psychological distress, whereas no significant moderating effects of institutional trust were observed. These findings suggest that gendered pathways must be carefully considered in both theoretical models and practical interventions.