Abstract  Objective  This  study   examines   gender differences in posttraumatic  vulnerability  in the face of the terror  attacks that occurred during the Al-Aqsa Intifada. In addition,  the contribution  of level of expo sure, sense of safety, self-efficacy, and coping strategies is assessed.  Method  Participants  were 250 men  and 262 women,  who constitute  a representative  sample of Israel’s adult population.  Data were collected via a structured  questionnaire   consisting  of 51 items  that were drawn  from  several questionnaires  widely used in the study of trauma.  Results The findings indicate that  women  endorsed  posttraumatic   and  depressive symptoms  more  than  men  and  that,  generally, their odds  of  developing  posttraumatic   stress  symptoms are six times  higher than  those  of men.  Results also revealed that women’s sense of safety and self-efficacy are lower than  men’s  and  that  there  are gender  dif- ferences  in  coping  strategies  in  the  face  of  terror. Conclusions Gender differences in vulnerability to ter- ror may be attributable  to a number of factors, among these  are women’s  higher  sense  of threat  and  lower self-efficacy, as well as their tendency to use less effec- tive coping strategies than  men. Level of exposure  to terror  was ruled out as a possible explanation  for the gender differences in vulnerability.

(Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr  Epidemiol)