Citation

Dekel R, Hobfoll SE. Aging Ment. Health 2007; 11(2): 159-167.

Affiliation

Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel 52900. dekell@mail.biu.ac.il

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13607860600736141

PMID

17453549

PMCID

PMC2717849

Abstract

We examined the distress level of 102 Holocaust survivors in Israel during a recent period of continuous exposure of the Israeli population to terror and the threat of missile attack. Based on the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, we explored the contribution of losses suffered during the Holocaust and of current loss of resources due to terror attacks on their distress level. Twenty one percent of the sample had probable PTSD and high psychological distress levels in general. Current loss of psychosocial resources contributed significantly to survivors' current PTSD symptomatology and general psychological distress, above the contribution of the previous Holocaust-related loss. Our findings support COR theory, which states that traumatic events are associated with ongoing and often rapid loss of resources. Resource loss, in turn, is associated with higher distress levels. Moreover, current loss of resources compounds the impact of earlier resource losses incurred during the Holocaust.

Language: en