[STRATEGIES FOR COPING WITH CAPTIVITY - THE CASE OF CIVILIANS KIDNAPPED BY HAMAS].

Abstract

Introduction: Studies that focus on coping strategies, especially among civilian hostages, are scant. Research findings may help predict the chances of readjustment upon return from captivity. The present study aimed to examine the challenges that the civilian hostages faced during captivity and how they dealt with the conditions of captivity. The study was based on seventeen interviews conducted with citizens who returned from Hamas captivity in the first release of hostages. All interviews were conducted by experienced journalists and were broadcast on the main television networks between 11.12.2024 and 4.1.2024. Two main themes were identified using inductive thematic analysis-difficulties in captivity (e.g., dealing with uncertainty, dependent relationships, conditions of isolation, and boredom). The second theme included coping strategies (e.g., hope, regaining control, building certainty, etc.). In each of these themes, several sub-themes that detail the difficulties in captivity and the ways of dealing with them were identified. In addition, the citizens who returned from captivity described using two coping strategies: problem-focused, which aims to manage the problem by "removing" or changing the stressful factor (e.g., planning, building certainty), and emotion-focused coping, which aims to reduce or eliminate the emotional stress and emotions that arise following the trauma (such as distraction, appeal to beliefs, humor, etc.). The themes revealed attempts to regain resources while trying to understand the situation, interpret it, reduce the emotional stress, and act in threatening situations effectively in order to make it possible to survive.