Avital Gershfeld-Litvin
Biographic Data
| ID | 1565990 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Avital Gershfeld-Litvin |
| GIVEN NAMES | Avital |
| FAMILY NAME | Gershfeld-Litvin |
| SIGNATURE | GERSHFELD-LITVIN A |
| AFFILIATIONS | The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Israel |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5111-5252 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 13 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 3 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 13 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2020 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Dislocated and Disrupted
This research focuses on the experiences of gay intended fathers with the loss of a pregnancy via international surrogacy, with the aim of exploring a relatively under-researched experience and expanding the knowledge relevant to their needs following pregnancy loss. Twelve Israeli gay men who experienced pregnancy loss via international surrogacy were interviewed. Ricoeur-inspired interpretative phenomenological analysis was conducted to explore…
A pilot study on specialized grief therapy training and its impact on Israeli therapists’ perceived competence in addressing the aftermath of October 7
This research was conducted within an emergency training program following the events of October 7, 2023, and examined whether a specialized course improved therapists' perceived competence in treating traumatic grief. Relationships between death anxiety, prior knowledge, and perceived competence were assessed using a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected through a quasi-experimental within-subjects approach with 158 therapists, …
Disrupted bereavement
This article examines how mass-scale traumatic events hinder normative bereavement through situational and procedural disruptions, using the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack in Israel as a focal case. We map how four core components in the grieving sequence - pre-death notification, pre-burial, memorialization and rituals, and mourning, are altered under such extreme conditions. We argue that established grief models and diagnoses like Prolonged …
It’s hard not to Be the hero
This study examines the experiences of Israeli combat soldiers prematurely removed from their units due to mild injury. While many studies focus on severe injuries, limited attention has been given to the impact of mild injuries. Using semi-structured interviews with 12 male veterans, analyzed through thematic analysis, findings are presented on two axes: a chronological axis, tracing the soldiers' military journey and injury, and a psychological…
Psychological experiences of Druze women with breast cancer
The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Druze women who were diagnosed with breast cancer. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine Druze women. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data and three themes were generated. The first was "cancer discourse": participants utilized codeswitching and medical jargon in their rhetoric, in a manner that seemed to imply difficulty to speak directly about their ex…
Experiences of pregnancy loss in fathers of existing children
This study explores the experiences of fathers of existing children following pregnancy loss. Participants were 12 Israeli men who experienced pregnancy loss and had other children at the time. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Four themes were generated through thematic analysis. The first was "emotional reactions": fathers described emotional disengagement after the loss. The second was "taking on a functional role": fathers assumed a …
Experiences of pregnancy loss in Israeli first-time expecting fathers
Psychological experiences of patients recovering from severe Covid-19 in rehabilitation
The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of post-sedation COVID-19 patients in rehabilitation. Eleven Israeli men and women were interviewed in semi-structured interviews. They were patients recovering in a neurological rehabilitation unit from severe COVID-19 post-mechanical ventilation and sedation. Five themes were generated through thematic analysis: “an unexpected turn of events,” “filling the gaps,” “emotional reactions,” “ambi…
Living with Parkinson's disease
Research has demonstrated that Parkinson's disease can have adverse psychological effects on caregivers. Very few studies have focused on the experiences of spouses who are not primary caregivers or who do not identify as primary caregivers. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of spouses who are not primary caregivers or do not identify as primary caregivers. Twelve Israeli women, spouses of men with Parkinson's disease, were int…
Stigma related to breast cancer among women and men
The objective of this study was to explore stigma related to breast cancer among Druze women and men and identify factors associated with low screening rates among Druze women. A sample of 270 Druze women and men completed an online questionnaire adapted to detect breast cancer stigma and internalized breast cancer stigma. Independent samples t-test results showed higher scores for men compared to women, at a significant level, on four of the Bre…
Beyond cultural differences
Women’s Experiences Following Mastectomy
The purpose of the study is to explore women’s experiences following mastectomy, from a perspective of loss and grief. Eighteen women (age 26–80 years) who had undergone mastectomies were interviewed. Half of the participants choose immediate breast reconstruction. The interviews were thematically analyzed based on Denzin’s interpretive interactionism approach. The findings show that the women’s experiences can be divided into three central theme…
Old and Depressed? What We Think About Ending Their Suffering—Attitudes Toward Euthanasia for Elderly Suffering From Physical Versus Mental Illness
This study aims to extend our knowledge regarding attitudes toward euthanasia. Specifically, the effect of patient's age and illness type. 123 participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups completed the Assessing Right to Die Attitudes (ARDA) questionnaire after reading a patients age (79 vs. 29 year old) and illness type (cancer vs. depression) description. Findings revealed more positive attitudes toward euthanasia when the patient was p…
Living with Parkinson's disease
Research has demonstrated that Parkinson's disease can have adverse psychological effects on caregivers. Very few studies have focused on the experiences of spouses who are not primary caregivers or who do not identify as primary caregivers. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of spouses who are not primary caregivers or do not identify as primary caregivers. Twelve Israeli women, spouses of men with Parkinson's disease, were int…
Stigma related to breast cancer among women and men
The objective of this study was to explore stigma related to breast cancer among Druze women and men and identify factors associated with low screening rates among Druze women. A sample of 270 Druze women and men completed an online questionnaire adapted to detect breast cancer stigma and internalized breast cancer stigma. Independent samples t-test results showed higher scores for men compared to women, at a significant level, on four of the Bre…
Beyond cultural differences
Old and Depressed? What We Think About Ending Their Suffering—Attitudes Toward Euthanasia for Elderly Suffering From Physical Versus Mental Illness
This study aims to extend our knowledge regarding attitudes toward euthanasia. Specifically, the effect of patient's age and illness type. 123 participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups completed the Assessing Right to Die Attitudes (ARDA) questionnaire after reading a patients age (79 vs. 29 year old) and illness type (cancer vs. depression) description. Findings revealed more positive attitudes toward euthanasia when the patient was p…
Beyond cultural differences
Women’s Experiences Following Mastectomy
The purpose of the study is to explore women’s experiences following mastectomy, from a perspective of loss and grief. Eighteen women (age 26–80 years) who had undergone mastectomies were interviewed. Half of the participants choose immediate breast reconstruction. The interviews were thematically analyzed based on Denzin’s interpretive interactionism approach. The findings show that the women’s experiences can be divided into three central theme…
Experiences of pregnancy loss in Israeli first-time expecting fathers
Psychological experiences of patients recovering from severe Covid-19 in rehabilitation
The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of post-sedation COVID-19 patients in rehabilitation. Eleven Israeli men and women were interviewed in semi-structured interviews. They were patients recovering in a neurological rehabilitation unit from severe COVID-19 post-mechanical ventilation and sedation. Five themes were generated through thematic analysis: “an unexpected turn of events,” “filling the gaps,” “emotional reactions,” “ambi…
Living with Parkinson's disease
Research has demonstrated that Parkinson's disease can have adverse psychological effects on caregivers. Very few studies have focused on the experiences of spouses who are not primary caregivers or who do not identify as primary caregivers. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of spouses who are not primary caregivers or do not identify as primary caregivers. Twelve Israeli women, spouses of men with Parkinson's disease, were int…
Stigma related to breast cancer among women and men
The objective of this study was to explore stigma related to breast cancer among Druze women and men and identify factors associated with low screening rates among Druze women. A sample of 270 Druze women and men completed an online questionnaire adapted to detect breast cancer stigma and internalized breast cancer stigma. Independent samples t-test results showed higher scores for men compared to women, at a significant level, on four of the Bre…
Experiences of pregnancy loss in fathers of existing children
This study explores the experiences of fathers of existing children following pregnancy loss. Participants were 12 Israeli men who experienced pregnancy loss and had other children at the time. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Four themes were generated through thematic analysis. The first was "emotional reactions": fathers described emotional disengagement after the loss. The second was "taking on a functional role": fathers assumed a …
Disrupted bereavement
This article examines how mass-scale traumatic events hinder normative bereavement through situational and procedural disruptions, using the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack in Israel as a focal case. We map how four core components in the grieving sequence - pre-death notification, pre-burial, memorialization and rituals, and mourning, are altered under such extreme conditions. We argue that established grief models and diagnoses like Prolonged …
It’s hard not to Be the hero
This study examines the experiences of Israeli combat soldiers prematurely removed from their units due to mild injury. While many studies focus on severe injuries, limited attention has been given to the impact of mild injuries. Using semi-structured interviews with 12 male veterans, analyzed through thematic analysis, findings are presented on two axes: a chronological axis, tracing the soldiers' military journey and injury, and a psychological…
Psychological experiences of Druze women with breast cancer
The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Druze women who were diagnosed with breast cancer. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine Druze women. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data and three themes were generated. The first was "cancer discourse": participants utilized codeswitching and medical jargon in their rhetoric, in a manner that seemed to imply difficulty to speak directly about their ex…
Dislocated and Disrupted
This research focuses on the experiences of gay intended fathers with the loss of a pregnancy via international surrogacy, with the aim of exploring a relatively under-researched experience and expanding the knowledge relevant to their needs following pregnancy loss. Twelve Israeli gay men who experienced pregnancy loss via international surrogacy were interviewed. Ricoeur-inspired interpretative phenomenological analysis was conducted to explore…
A pilot study on specialized grief therapy training and its impact on Israeli therapists’ perceived competence in addressing the aftermath of October 7
This research was conducted within an emergency training program following the events of October 7, 2023, and examined whether a specialized course improved therapists' perceived competence in treating traumatic grief. Relationships between death anxiety, prior knowledge, and perceived competence were assessed using a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected through a quasi-experimental within-subjects approach with 158 therapists, …
Psychology (10 works) · Medicine (8 works) · Clinical Psychology (6 works) · Grief (5 works) · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health (5 works) · Psychiatry (5 works) · Psychotherapist (5 works) · Qualitative research (5 works) · Social Psychology (4 works) · Breast cancer (3 works)