title: Transgenerational effects of trauma in midlife: Evidence for resilience and vulnerability in offspring of Holocaust survivors.
abstract: Despite abundant research on offspring of Holocaust survivors (OHS), it is relatively unknown how they function in middle age. Transgenerational effects of the Holocaust may be stronger among middle-aged OHS as they previously suffered from early inclement natal and postnatal environment and now face age-related decline. However, middle-aged OHS may successfully maintain the resilience they demonstrated at a younger age. This study performed a wide-spectrum functional assessment of middle-aged OHS and a comparison group (N = 364) drawn from the Israeli component of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE-Israel). OHS, and especially those with two survivor parents, reported a higher sense of well-being but more physical health problems than the comparison group. The discussion provides possible explanations for this mixed functional profile. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shrira
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Yuval
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Palgi
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Ariel University Center of Samaria.
authors.forename: Menachem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben-Ezra
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Dov
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shmotkin