Citation

Hoffman Y, Shrira A. Psychiatry Res. 2017; 253: 220-225.

Affiliation

The Interdisciplinary Department of Social Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.psychres.2017.03.053

PMID

28391139

Abstract

The current study examined intergenerational transmission of trauma in grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. While many typically do not find evidence for such effects, careful reading of the relevant literature suggests conditions under which such effects may be obtained. Following, we made use of three factors. First, we took the number of grandparents exposed to the Holocaust into account. Second, we examined participants who were exposed to present terror and displayed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Third, we measured anxiety of a future ISIS threat, which in its genocidal nature is reminiscent of the Holocaust.

RESULTS reveal that grandchildren having all four grandparents who survived the Holocaust in conjunction with them directly experiencing PTSD symptoms demonstrated greater ISIS anxiety than other groups.

RESULTS are discussed in reference to various conditions that may determine the likelihood of intergenerational transmission of trauma emerging.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Grandchildren of Holocaust survivors; ISIS threat; Intergenerational transmission of trauma; PTSD