Participation in Health-Promoting Activities of Mothers of Young Children Post-Man-Made Disaster Caused by Terrorist Attack

Global disasters’ rising toll on participation in health-promoting activities (HPA) has been observed, especially for mothers with young children, who may face unique challenges postdisaster. This brief report examined perceived changes in participation in HPA and its supportive factors as perceived by mothers, following a terrorist attack disaster. Method: Two hundred one mothers (age range = 20–58) of young children up to 12 years completed an online survey including sociodemographic data, exposure to disaster characteristics, participation in HPA, and social support measures. They also responded to an openended question regarding factors supporting their health needs and ability to participate in daily activities 1 month postdisaster. Results: Most of the mothers who completed the survey reported decreased participation in HPA postdisaster. Disaster exposure correlated with perceived reductions in frequency and competence of participation. Social support moderated the effect of disaster exposure on reduced competence. Descriptive analysis revealed four themes: consequences of disaster exposure, external resources, life-role overload, and adaptive thinking to the situation. Conclusions: Mothers with young children face postdisaster challenges impacting their HPA. Social support may serve as a protective factor, mitigating negative consequences of disaster exposure on perceived competence in participation. Results emphasize that interventions targeting maternal health postdisasters, highlighting the importance of social support, are imperative.