Cited by 21Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchMemory, Trauma, and CommemorationAging and Gerontology Research

Variables Connecting Parental PTSD to Offspring Successful Aging: Parent–Child Role Reversal, Secondary Traumatization, and Depressive Symptoms

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Hoffman, Yaakov, Shrira, Amit·2019·Frontiers in Psychiatry

Abstract

The effects of parental trauma on offspring of Holocaust survivors (OHS) are debated in the literature. Recently, scholars suggested that it may be more productive to ask when and via which mechanisms such effects are observed. Following, the current study examines if parental Holocaust-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are linked with the aging processes of their middle-aged offspring. Beyond this association, we also suggested a putative mediation path, indicating three underlying mechanisms by which parental trauma lingers on: perceived parent-child role reversal, secondary traumatization, and depressive symptoms. Using a convenience sample of 682 community-dwelling participants, comprising, 341 older adult parent-middle-aged offspring dyads (M age=81.71 and 54.58 for parents and offspring, respectively) to address this issue. Parents reported PTSD with the valid measure of PCL-5. OHS reported perceived parent-child role reversal, secondary traumatization, depressive symptoms and completed indices of successful aging. Based on parents' reports, we divided the parent-offspring dyads into three groups: OHS whose parents had probable PTSD (n dyads=43), OHS whose parents did not had PTSD (n dyads=161), and comparison with parents who did not undergo the Holocaust (n dyads=137). Findings reveal that OHS with parents suffering from probable PTSD aged less successfully than comparisons. Serial mediation analyses validated the aforementioned putative pathway (perceived parent-child role reversal, secondary traumatization, and depression) linking parental PTSD with offspring successful aging. Our findings are discussed through a vignette depicting a fictional OHS character. These underlying mechanisms suggest that different types of interventions, each geared towards a specific mechanism, may mitigate the lingering effect of parental PTSD on diminished OHS successful aging.

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  1. [43]Weathers FW Litz BT Keane TM Palmieri PA Marx BP Schnurr PP The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Scale available from the National Center for PTSD at www.ptsd.va.gov (2013) 10.1111/jgs.15461 · DOI
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  3. [59]Baranowsky AB Young M Johnson-Douglas S Williams-Keeler L McCarrey M PTSD transmission: a review of secondary traumatization in Holocaust survivor families. Can Psychol (1998) 39: 247–56. 10.1037/h0086816 · DOI

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Authors
Hoffman, Y., & Shrira, A.
Affiliations
Bar-Ilan University (IL)
Corresponding author
Hoffman, Yaakov
Venue
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Published
2019-10-15
Volume
10
Pages
718-718
ISSN
1664-0640 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2980613154
Cited by
21
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2017: 1
FWCI
0.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Frontiers in Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Memory, Trauma, and Commemoration
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Keywords
Holocaust survivors, secondary traumatic stress, depressive symptoms, intergenerational trauma, aging, mediation

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