Psychological reactions of Holocaust survivors following the October 7 attack in Israel.

Abstract

Holocaust survivors may be sensitive to additional traumatic events that can awaken memories of their past. The study examined Holocaust survivors' reactions to the October 7 terrorist attack. Data were collected from 118 Israeli Jewish older adults, who were divided into three groups: Survivors with high (n = 17), and with low PTSD symptom levels (n = 69) and a comparison group (n = 32), matched for background variables. Results demonstrate that survivors who reported high PTSD symptom levels due to the Holocaust reported more anxiety (p < .001, η² = 0.13), depression (p = .006, η² = 0.08), and PTSD symptoms due to the Israel-Hamas War (p < .001, η² = 0.22), compared to low-PTSD-level survivors and comparisons - those not directly exposed to the Holocaust. However, there were no group differences in hope, activity engagement, and community resilience. The findings highlight the heightened distress experienced by highly traumatized Holocaust survivors following additional mass trauma, while also demonstrating their remarkable resilience.