Psychological well-being among Holocaust survivors and immigrants in Israel

✍ Scribed by Zev Harel; Boaz Kahana; Eva Kahana

• Book ID: 102925679
• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1988
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 922 KB
• Volume: 1
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0894-9867
• DOI: 10.1002/jts.2490010404

✦ Synopsis

This research assessed predictors of psychological well-being among 180 survivors of the Holocaust and among a comparison group of I60 immigrants of similar sociocultural background living in Israel. Four variables: better health, higher instrumental coping, lower emotional coping, and lesser so- cial concern, were found to be signifcant predictors of psychological wellbeing in both groups. Among survivors, these four variables, as well as being married, fewer life crises, communication with co-workers, and not being resigned to fate, accounted for 52% of explained variancein psychological well-being. Among immigrants who served as a comparison group, these four variables, along with a relaxed personality style and good communication with one's spouse, accounted for 36% or explained variance in psychological well-being. Theses factors underscore the importance of current social and psychological adaptation for psychological well-being among survivors and among older persons of similar backgrounds who did not endure the extreme trauma of the Holocaust.