Israel's Seniors in a Lesson on Resilience
In the face of conflict and chaos, an unlikely group has emerged in Israel with remarkable resilience: its senior citizens
A new study led by Bar-Ilan University's Prof. Amit Shrira has uncovered a surprising truth – older Israelis are weathering the storm of the Israel-Hamas war with remarkable fortitude, outpacing their younger counterparts in mental resilience.
Wisdom in the Face of War
As the conflict unfolded, researchers discovered a generation of seniors standing tall, their life experiences serving as a bulwark against the psychological toll of war.
The numbers tell a stark story: In the weeks following the outbreak of hostilities, a staggering 42.8% of young adults aged 20-59 reported symptoms consistent with PTSD. In contrast, only 13.7% of adults over 60 experienced similar distress.
The Secret Power of Age
What’s behind this remarkable disparity? Prof. Shrira and his colleague, Prof. Yuval Palgi from the University of Haifa, point to a phenomenon they call the “inoculation hypothesis.” Like a vaccine that prepares the body to fight off future infections, the trials and tribulations of a long life seem to have strengthened the emotional resilience of older Israelis.
Despite experiencing declining physical, cognitive, and social resources, older adults may still have other resources that help them cope with traumatic events. Some of these resources include life experience, wisdom, emotional regulation capabilities, and the use of strategies to compensate for lost abilities while optimizing preserved ones.
This research challenges us to reconsider our approach to aging and mental health. In addition to viewing seniors as vulnerable members of society in need of protection, we might benefit from seeing them as sources of strength and wisdom in times of crisis.
The study was published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.