Knowledge about traumatic World War II experiences among ancestors and subjective well-being of young adults: A person-centred perspective.

Marcin Rzeszutek,Daniel Pankowski,Szymon Szumiał,Monika Karlsen,Maja Lis-Turlejska,Katarzyna Lisowska,Małgorzata Pięta,Holly Backus,Wiktoria Florek

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0237859

Marcin Rzeszutek, Daniel Pankowski + Show 7 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237859

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Abstract

The aim of our study is to examine the association between knowledge about the World War II (WWII)-related traumatic experiences of their ancestors and subjective well-being (SWB) of young adults, i.e., descendants of Polish survivors of WWII. Specifically, we focus on the life satisfaction and the mental, physical, and psychosocial well-being of our participants in relation to their knowledge about WWII trauma in their family histories. The sample comprised 500 Polish young adults recruited from a nonclinical general population. Participants first filled out a questionnaire assessing their knowledge about traumatic events that their ancestors could have experienced during WWII (see grandparents/mothers, great-grandparents/mothers). After that, subjects were given inventories to assess their SWB, i.e., the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Latent profile analysis was applied to extract profiles of participants differing with regard to the scope of knowledge about WWII-related traumatic experiences among ancestors. Specifically, six profiles were observed, and a general lack of knowledge about this kind of trauma in the family was characteristic of the sample. We also found differences in SWB across profiles of participants, with worse SWB in the profiles with the highest lack of knowledge about WWII-related traumatic experiences in the family. Our study adds to the literature on intergenerational trauma by applying a person-centred perspective, a methodological approach almost invisible in research on that topic. In addition, our findings can serve as a stimulus for more comprehensive debate on WWII trauma in Polish society.

Highlights

Latent profile analysis was applied to extract profiles of participants differing with regard to the scope of knowledge about World War II (WWII)-related traumatic experiences among ancestors
We found differences in subjective well-being (SWB) across profiles of participants, with worse SWB in the profiles with the highest lack of knowledge about WWII-related traumatic experiences in the family
More than half a century ago, Rakoff et al [1] observed and described the phenomenon of intergenerational trauma manifesting in psychopathological symptoms among descendants of Holocaust survivors—descendants who did not experience this kind of massive traumatization directly, but were secondarily traumatized by parental traumatic history

Summary

Introduction

More than half a century ago, Rakoff et al [1] observed and described the phenomenon of intergenerational trauma manifesting in psychopathological symptoms among descendants of Holocaust survivors—descendants who did not experience this kind of massive traumatization directly, but were secondarily traumatized by parental traumatic history. Studies on intergenerational trauma have aroused controversy, as several questions remained unanswered. It is still not known whether trauma transmission imposes negative clinical consequences on subsequent generations or not [e.g., compare [7, 13, 14] and which generation (the second or third) is affected most by the traumatic experiences of ancestors [e.g., compare [15, 16]]. In our project we concentrate on the link between knowledge about World War II (WWII)-related traumatic experiences of their ancestors and subjective well-being among young adults in Poland, i.e., descendants of Polish survivors of WWII

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