Does intergenerational transmission of trauma skip a generation? No meta-analytic evidence for tertiary traumatization with third generation of Holocaust survivors

Abstract

In a series of meta-analyses with the second generation of Holocaust survivors, no evidence for secondary traumatization was found (Van IJzendoorn, Bakermans-Kranenburg, & Sagi-Schwartz, 2003). With regard to third generation traumatization, various reports suggest the presence of intergenerational transmission of trauma. Some scholars argue that intergenerational transmission of trauma might skip a generation. Therefore, we focus in this study on the transmission of trauma to the third generation offspring (the grandchildren) of the first generation's traumatic Holocaust experiences (referred to as "tertiary traumatization"), and we present a narrative review of the pertinent studies. Meta-analytic results of 13 non-clinical samples involving 1012 participants showed no evidence for tertiary traumatization in Holocaust survivor families. Our previous meta-analytic study on secondary traumatization and the present one on third generation's psychological consequences of the Holocaust indicate a remarkable resilience of profoundly traumatized survivors in their (grand-)parental roles.

Intergenerational Transmission of Stress in Humans

“…At least one study suggests that stress is transmitted to a third generation. Adolescent offspring of two Holocaust survivor offspring parents exhibited higher levels of ambivalent attachment style and demonstrated poorer judgment compared with peers with one Holocaust survivor offspring parent (Scharf, 2007), although a separate study found no evidence for tertiary traumatization in third-generation Holocaust survivors (Sagi-Schwartz et al, 2008). As some data from the human literature suggest that the effects of stress persist beyond the second generation, it will be critical to determine whether the same biological mechanisms that are associated with stress transmission to the second generation are also associated with transfer from the second to the third generation.…”

Die mehrgenerationale Weitergabe von Traumatisierungen – empirische und familiendynamische Perspektiven

“…auch Fridman, Bakermans-Kranenburg, Sagi-Schwartz, van IJzendoorn, 2011). Sagi-Schwartz, van IJzendoorn und Bakermans-Kranenburg (2008) fanden keine Belege für eine tertiäre Traumatisierung. Die von Psychotherapeuten im klinischen Alltag häufig beobachteten psychopathologischen Auffälligkeiten bei Nachkommen der Überlebenden konnten empirisch nicht als generelles Phänomen abgesichert werden (Kellermann, 2001).…”

Transgenerational Effects of PTSD or Traumatic Stress: Do Telomeres Reach Across the Generations?

“…This study was most likely the first work that significantly demonstrated the prenatal effects of glucocorticoids on TL dynamics. But together with the findings on the influence of maternal stress on offspring TL [65,67], the new findings from animal models [66,85] might suggest a link between the 4 factors cellular metabolism, inheritance, telomere biology and transgenerational consequences of PTSD and other stress related disorders.…”

“…They found significant impacts of Holocaust in the first generation but not the second generation. In a meta-analytic approach from 2008 integrating 13 non-clinical samples with 1012 subjects the authors focused on a transmission of trauma to the third generation [85]. Like in their study on secondary traumatization, the group stated no effect of tertiary traumatization of Holocaust.…”

“…Evidence, however, is not completely consistent and some studies question trans generational consequences of PTSD [84,85]. SagiSchwartz et al [84] investigated a sample of 196 female subjects (48 Holocaust survivors and 50 controls, each had one daughter) to address trans generational effects form mothers to their daughters [84].…”