What is it about?

Preliminary COVID-19 related studies indicate that older adults might be vulnerable to negative mental health effects associated with social distancing and isolation. Identifying older adults who might be particularly vulnerable will allow more timely effective intervention and prevention of adverse effects. We therefore examined whether older adult offspring of Holocaust survivors have particular psychological sensitivities to the COVID-19 pandemic, due to specific vulnerabilities existing in Holocaust survivor families.

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Why is it important?

We identified vulnerabilities to PTSD, psychological distress, and loneliness among aging offspring of Holocaust survivors with parental PTSD, which render these older adults more susceptible to negative effects related to COVID-19 and to the coalescing crises that followed. Parental PTSD might constitute a risk factor for such vulnerabilities also in other groups of older adults.

Perspectives

As an Israeli and a grandson of a Holocaust survivor I see great importance in studying and highlighting the unique vulnerabilities and strengths that characterize Holocaust survivors families.

Amit Shrira

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Parental PTSD and psychological reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic among offspring of Holocaust survivors., Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy, May 2021, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/tra0001014.
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