Marital quality among couples living under the threat of forced relocation: The case of families in the Golan Heights

This study aims to explore how the long period of uncertainty about possibl e relocation affects the marital quality of the population in the Golan Hei ghts and what forms of coping with this ongoing stress are used. The result s, based on both quantitative and qualitative data, indicate a circular pro cess in which the level of stress generated by the uncertainty varies with marital quality and with other personal and family resources such as potenc y and an appreciation of the spouse's ability to cope with the stress. I;ou r ways df coping with the uncertainty were observed in in-depth interviews: fighting, ignoring, postponing, and planning. The results are discussed in terms of their meaning for possible systemic interventions.