57% Say Marriage is Broken: The Hidden Toll of Israel’s Prolonged Reserve Duty

The sustained and intensive mobilization of Israeli military reservists has taken a severe toll on family life, with nearly 30% of spouses reporting they considered separation or divorce due to the strain of prolonged service, according to the first detailed report from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) since the onset of the war.

The CBS survey, which examines the impact of reserve duty over the past two years, reveals a direct correlation between the length of service and the degree of relationship damage:

Half (50%) of the spouses of reservists reported that their marital relationship was on the rocks. This figure rose sharply from 36% for those whose partner served 50 days or less, to a staggering 57% for those whose partner served between 250 and 350 days.

Psychological Impact on Spouses and Children

The study underscored significant mental health consequences for both the partners and children of those called up for duty:

52% of the spouses reported a negative change in their children’s mental state following the reserve service. This peaked at 63% for spouses whose partners served between 200 and 250 days.

Regarding psychological help, 61% of the spouses indicated they needed some form of assistance after the reserve duty ended. 55% of those seeking help needed psychological or emotional assistance, and 38% required financial assistance.

The data shows that the need for psychological support directly increased the longer a partner remained in service. Following the completion of duty, 35% of the affected couples sought professional counseling.

The findings highlight a critical, burgeoning crisis within Israeli society, where the necessary defense mobilization is creating profound and lasting social and mental health challenges for the families sustaining the war effort.