Family involvement and secondary traumatization in Holocaust survivor families: An actor–partner interdependence model.

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to examine the interpersonal relationships between family involvement (i.e., emotional and behavioral strategies that underscore family members’ well-being and familial legacy) and secondary traumatization (i.e., symptoms of distress resulting from close contact with a traumatized individual) in Holocaust survivors and comparison families. We assessed levels of family involvement and secondary traumatization in children and grandchildren of survivors (Holocaust G2 and G3) and comparisons. Next, we examined whether there are within and between generation relationships between family involvement and secondary traumatization (i.e., G2’s family involvement affects G3’s secondary traumatization and vice versa). Method: The sample included 92 Holocaust G2–G3 dyads and 67 equivalent comparison dyads (comparison G2 and G3 of European origin, whose parents or grandparents were not in Nazi/pro-Nazi dominated countries). Participants answered questionaries on background characteristics, family involvement, and secondary traumatization. Results: Secondary traumatization was significantly higher among Holocaust G2 and G3 than comparison G2 and G3, respectively. Family involvement was significantly higher among Holocaust G2 than comparison G2. An Actor–Partner Interdependence model showed that participants who reported greater family involvement reported higher secondary traumatization in all families (i.e., an actor effect). A significant partner effect was found only in Holocaust families. In these families, greater family involvement in one generation was related to higher secondary traumatization in the other generation. Conclusions: The findings suggest a unique interpersonal mechanism of intergenerational transmission of trauma in Holocaust families that appears to affect both generations, which may help design multigenerational interventions with survivor families, focusing on family involvement.

Echoes of ancestral trauma: Russo-Ukrainian War salience and psychological distress among subsequent generations in Holocaust survivor families.

“…G2 and G3 did not have familial relationship to each other. As conducted in previous studies (e.g., Greenblatt-Kimron et al, 2021, 2023, G2 and G3 were born after World War II (after 1945). Holocaust G2 were children of parents who were both born before 1946, with at least one parent who lived in countries dominated by the Nazi or pro-Nazi regime during 1939-1945.…”

“…It is presumed that Holocaust survivor families are more susceptible to the intra-and interpersonal characteristics of trauma transmission (Shmotkin et al, 2011). From this perspective, Figure 1 Russo-Ukrainian War Salience in Holocaust and Comparison Families previous studies showed higher awareness of the family atmosphere in Holocaust families (Greenblatt- Kimron et al, 2023;Palgi et al, 2015), higher levels of family involvement (Greenblatt- Kimron et al, 2023), and higher levels of secondary traumatization (Giladi & Bell, 2013;Greenblatt-Kimron et al, 2021, 2023. Furthermore, dyadic analyses showed a link between greater family involvement and higher secondary traumatization in both Holocaust G2 and G3 and comparison G2 and G3; nevertheless, only in Holocaust G2 and G3 greater family involvement in one generation was related to higher secondary traumatization in the other generation.…”

“…Although it is complex to conclude the precise mechanism of this outcome, previous research has shown that similar mechanisms of trauma transmission operate in Holocaust families and comparison families, nonetheless, the magnitude of this transmission is amplified in Holocaust survivor families (Greenblatt- Kimron et al, 2023). It is presumed that Holocaust survivor families are more susceptible to the intra-and interpersonal characteristics of trauma transmission (Shmotkin et al, 2011).…”

“…It is suggested that intergenerational transmission of trauma should not be regarded as an inherent consequence of first-generation exposure (Shrira et al, 2017). Moreover, specific studies are necessary to identify families at risk for trauma transmission and the mechanisms of this transmission (Greenblatt- Kimron et al, 2021Kimron et al, , 2023Kellermann, 2009). For example, Holocaust G2, whose parent suffers from PTSD symptoms, appear more vulnerable to exhibiting PTSD symptoms when faced with stressful or traumatic events (Yehuda et al, 1998).…”