Exploring the Lived Experiences of Grandchildren of Holocaust survivors: a Phenomenological Approach

Research on trauma has generated vast knowledge on the health-related impacts of a single traumatic experience on survivors and their immediate families. Less is known about the health-related impacts of large-scale traumatic events, such as man-made mass and collective trauma. Collective trauma, such as the Holocaust, can potentially have long-term health-related impacts on the survivors and their descendants for generations to come. This thesis explores the lived experiences of grandchildren of Holocaust survivors and the meanings they assign to their familial Holocaust background and investigates indications of intergenerational transmission of trauma and resilience.