This research area examines the longitudinal impact of chronic war exposure on the maternal-child relationship and child development. Following a cohort of mothers from pregnancy through early childhood, we investigate how maternal mental health, specifically PTSD, anxiety, and depression, mediates the associations between war-related trauma and the child’s developmental trajectory. By integrating home-based behavioral observations with stress biomarkers, we explore how the "biological embedding" of stress affects both mother and child. Our goal is to identify maternal protective factors that enable mothers to maintain a "protective shield" and foster resilience in their children even amidst ongoing adversity.