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Johns AN, Brown LS, Cromer LD. Examining intergenerational transmission of Holocaust trauma as it relates to Jewish identity, communication type, and mental well-being. J Trauma Stress 2022; 35:1497-1507. [PMID: 35733300 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of literature has examined how historical trauma can transmit across generations. Within this literature, one's level of enculturation is thought to impact their awareness of historical losses, which, in turn, is hypothesized to relate to mental well-being. Some studies have suggested that family communication about historical trauma can impact the strength of cultural identity and mental well-being. The current study sampled second- and third-generation Holocaust survivors to examine how family communication about the Holocaust relates to historical loss awareness and the strength of Jewish identity. Adults (N = 98) with relatives who had either been killed in or who survived the Holocaust completed online questionnaires. First, we examined the associations among Jewish identity, historical loss awareness, and family communication about the Holocaust. Next, we examined whether Holocaust-related family communication type predicted mental well-being. Healthy communication was classified as frequent and willing, and unhealthy communication was classified as indirect and guilt-inducing. Multiple linear regression analyses indicated that stronger Jewish identity and more frequent family Holocaust communication predicted more historical loss awareness, R2 = .22. Unhealthy communication was related to poorer mental well-being, R2 = .09, lending support to the idea that family narratives about trauma impact the next generation. Implications for healing from historical trauma are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviva N Johns
- Department of Psychology, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Laura S Brown
- Department of Psychology, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
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Head B, Harris L, Kayser K, Martin A, Smith L. As if the disease was not enough: coping with the financial consequences of cancer. Support Care Cancer 2017; 26:975-987. [DOI: 10.1007/s00520-017-3918-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Ahmad S, Fergus K, Shatokhina K, Gardner S. The closer 'We' are, the stronger 'I' am: the impact of couple identity on cancer coping self-efficacy. J Behav Med 2016; 40:403-413. [PMID: 27848061 DOI: 10.1007/s10865-016-9803-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The present study tested the supposition that greater levels of couple identity (or we-ness) increase a woman's coping self-efficacy in relation to breast cancer, which, in turn, predicts better psychosocial adjustment. Women (N = 112) in committed relationships completed surveys assessing their levels of couple identity, cancer coping self-efficacy, and aspects of their psychosocial adjustment (specifically, depression, anxiety and functional well-being) during one of their outpatient visits to the cancer centre. As predicted, the more women identified with their relationships, the lower their levels of depression and anxiety were and the greater their functional well-being was. This relationship was mediated by coping self-efficacy: greater identification with one's relationship predicted greater confidence in one's ability to cope, which, in turn, predicted better adjustment. The role intimate relationships play in women's adjustment to breast cancer, as well as directions for further research, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saunia Ahmad
- Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada. .,Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.
| | - Karen Fergus
- Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.,Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Kristina Shatokhina
- Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.,Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Sandra Gardner
- Kunin-Lunenfeld Centre for Applied and Evaluative Research Unit, Baycrest Health Sciences Centre, 3560 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M6A 2E1, Canada
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