Age matters: Looming cognitive style and fear of war in a serial moderation model of PTSD symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: The looming cognitive style (LCS) suggests a perception of threats as rapidly intensifying and approaching, which may increase anxiety and contribute to cognitive vulnerability. Although cognitive vulnerabilities are known to play a key role in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its symptoms, the specific role of the LCS in PTSD remains understudied. Moreover, LCS has not been studied with regard to fear of war, specifically in the context of ongoing and prolonged war, or between younger and older adults. The study aimed to examine the roles of LCS and fear of war between younger and older adults and PTSD symptoms nearly a year into the Israel-Hamas War. METHOD: = 3.59), with 50% being women, completing a questionnaire. Participants reported on LCS, fear of war, and PTSD symptoms due to the October 7 attack and subsequent Israel-Hamas war. RESULTS: Younger adults and women reported higher levels of LCS, fear of war, and PTSD symptoms relative to older adults and men. The serial mediation model showed that both LCS and fear of war mediated the effect of being a younger adult on PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Findings underscore that younger adults and women are more vulnerable to wartime stress than older adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).