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Health status and mortality in Holocaust survivors living in Jerusalem 40–50 years later
Author(s) -
Collins Chen,
Burazeri Genc,
Gofin Jaime,
Kark Jeremy D.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1023/b:jots.0000048953.27980.18
Subject(s) - the holocaust , holocaust survivors , distress , demography , medicine , public health , gerontology , psychiatry , psychology , clinical psychology , sociology , philosophy , theology , nursing
Abstract The long‐term health sequelae of the Holocaust were assessed 40–50 years later in the framework of a Jerusalem community health study. Holocaust survivors ( N = 288, mean age = 67.6 years) and European‐born Jews, not exposed to the Holocaust ( N = 486, mean age = 68.9 years), were studied in 1985–87. Our objective was to compare psychobehavioral factors, clinical variables, and mortality outcomes. The comparisons revealed higher emotional distress scores in female Holocaust survivors than in unexposed women and poorer self‐appraised health status in male Holocaust survivors than unexposed men. A 10‐year mortality follow‐up that terminated in April 1996 showed no significant association with Holocaust exposure. Long‐term Holocaust survivors may represent a selective resilient group.