Holocaust Haunts Survivors: Study
The suffering experienced by Holocaust survivors still leaves psychological scars but appears to have little effect on their cognitive functioning and physical health, according to a new international study.
Researchers from Israel and the Netherlands also found that Holocaust survivors living in Israel have better psychological health than those living in other countries, which suggests that living in Israel may serve as a protective factor.
"Six decades after the end of World War II and we are still learning how a mass genocide like the Holocaust is affecting its victims," lead author Efrat Barel, a psychology professor at the Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel, said in an American Psychological Association news release.
"What we've found is that they have the ability to overcome their traumatic experiences and even to flourish and gain psychological growth, but it many not be as easy as it seems," Barel added.
Barel and colleagues analyzed the findings from 71 studies that were conducted over 44 years (1964 to 2008) and compared Holocaust survivors and control groups from the general population.
The analysis showed that Holocaust survivors had poorer psychological well-being, more symptoms of post-traumatic stress and more symptoms of mental illness. Holocaust survivors living in Israel had better psychological well-being and social adjustment than those living in other countries....
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Researchers from Israel and the Netherlands also found that Holocaust survivors living in Israel have better psychological health than those living in other countries, which suggests that living in Israel may serve as a protective factor.
"Six decades after the end of World War II and we are still learning how a mass genocide like the Holocaust is affecting its victims," lead author Efrat Barel, a psychology professor at the Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel, said in an American Psychological Association news release.
"What we've found is that they have the ability to overcome their traumatic experiences and even to flourish and gain psychological growth, but it many not be as easy as it seems," Barel added.
Barel and colleagues analyzed the findings from 71 studies that were conducted over 44 years (1964 to 2008) and compared Holocaust survivors and control groups from the general population.
The analysis showed that Holocaust survivors had poorer psychological well-being, more symptoms of post-traumatic stress and more symptoms of mental illness. Holocaust survivors living in Israel had better psychological well-being and social adjustment than those living in other countries....