Transgenerational transmission of trauma in families of Holocaust survivors: The consequences of extreme family functioning on resilience, Sense of Coherence, anxiety and depression
Author(s)
Fossion, Pierre
Leys, Christophe
Vandeleur, Caroline
Kempenaers, Chantal
Braun, Stéphanie
Verbanck, Paul
Linkowski, Paul
Leys, Christophe
Vandeleur, Caroline
Kempenaers, Chantal
Braun, Stéphanie
Verbanck, Paul
Linkowski, Paul
Publication Name
Publication Date
Abstract
Background
The psychological transmission of the noxious effects of a major trauma from one generation to the next remains unclear. The present study aims to identify possible mechanisms explaining this transmission among families of Holocaust Survivors (HS). We hypothesized that the high level of depressive and anxiety disorders (DAD) among HS impairs family systems, which results in damaging coping strategies of their children (CHS) yielding a higher level of DAD.
Methods
49 CHS completed the Resilience Scale for Adults, the Hopkins Symptom Check List-25, the 13-Item Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale, and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale. We test a mediation model with Family types as the predictor; coping strategies (i.e. Resilience or SOC) as the mediator; and DAD as the outcome variable.
Results
Results confirm that the CHS׳ family types are more often damaged than in general population. Moreover, growing in a damaged family seems to impede development of coping strategies and, therefore, enhances the occurrence of DAD.
Limitations
The present investigation is correlational and should be confirmed by other prospective investigations.
Conclusions
At a theoretical level we propose a mechanism of transmission of the noxious effects of a major trauma from one generation to the next through family structure and coping strategies. At a clinical level, our results suggest to investigate the occurrence of trauma among parents of patients consulting for DAD and to reinforce their coping strategies.
The psychological transmission of the noxious effects of a major trauma from one generation to the next remains unclear. The present study aims to identify possible mechanisms explaining this transmission among families of Holocaust Survivors (HS). We hypothesized that the high level of depressive and anxiety disorders (DAD) among HS impairs family systems, which results in damaging coping strategies of their children (CHS) yielding a higher level of DAD.
Methods
49 CHS completed the Resilience Scale for Adults, the Hopkins Symptom Check List-25, the 13-Item Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale, and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale. We test a mediation model with Family types as the predictor; coping strategies (i.e. Resilience or SOC) as the mediator; and DAD as the outcome variable.
Results
Results confirm that the CHS׳ family types are more often damaged than in general population. Moreover, growing in a damaged family seems to impede development of coping strategies and, therefore, enhances the occurrence of DAD.
Limitations
The present investigation is correlational and should be confirmed by other prospective investigations.
Conclusions
At a theoretical level we propose a mechanism of transmission of the noxious effects of a major trauma from one generation to the next through family structure and coping strategies. At a clinical level, our results suggest to investigate the occurrence of trauma among parents of patients consulting for DAD and to reinforce their coping strategies.
Topics
Holocaust Survivors Holocaust Survivors: Children of Main Topic: Holocaust and Memorial Trauma Age and Generational Issues Ageing and the Elderly Family and Household Mental Health Psychology/Psychiatry Psychology
Genre
Geographic Coverage
Original Language
Volume/Issue
171
Page Number / Article Number
48-53
DOI
Link
Link to article (paywalled), Transgenerational transmission of trauma in families of Holocaust survivors: The consequences of extreme family functioning on resilience, Sense of Coherence, anxiety and depression
Bibliographic Information
Transgenerational transmission of trauma in families of Holocaust survivors: The consequences of extreme family functioning on resilience, Sense of Coherence, anxiety and depression. 2015: 48-53. https://archive.jpr.org.uk/10.1016/j.jad.2014.08.054
