Grandchildren of survivors: can negative effects of prolonged exposure to excessive stress be observed two generations later?

ABSTRACT

Some studies have demonstrated negative psychological repercussions on children of parents who experienced extreme, prolonged stress. To determine whether such effects might continue in the third generation, we examined the presenting complaints of patients in a child psychiatry clinic who could be reliably identified as (i) children whose parents were native born but who had at least one grandparent who was a survivor of the Nazi persecution (Index 1, N = 58); (ii) other children who had at least one parent and one grandparent who was a survivor (Index 2, N = 11); (iii) children of other immigrant grandparents (N = 28); (iv) children with four native born grandparents (N = 30). All other grandparents and parents were native born. All families were of the same ethnic group. Index 2 children manifested more difficulties related to school performance, but the small size of the sample precludes generalization. Although the Index 1 children did not have different types of behavioural disturbances, the size of the Index (1 + 2) group (N = 69) relative to the comparison groups was 300% greater than expected on the basis of community population estimates. Implications of this finding are discussed.