Psychological Impact Of Covid-19 Lockdown On Chilidren Of Holocaust Survivors.

Background : The Covid-19 pandemic, along with lockdown measures, triggered memories among Children of Holocaust Survivors (CHS) of the traumatic events endured by their parents during World War II. Objectives : The main objective of our study was to determine the prevalence of CHS who felt a parallel between the situation, lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic and the history of their parents and grandparents during World War II and to assess its association with family history, history of psychological disorders and restorative coping strategies developed by Danieli . Methods : CHS and Children of Non-Jewish Parents (CNP) with at least one parent who had lived in France were invited through social media to participate in an online survey. The questionnaire collected socio-demographic data, information on family history during the war, psychological history, and details on restorative coping strategies. Results : Among 614 CHS participants (mean age 65.8 years, 30.8% male), fewer CHS drew a parallel between the lockdown and their family’s wartime history than CNP (40.1% vs. 48.6%, p ≤ 0.05). Gender, place of birth/residence, marital status, and CHS typology did not significantly impact this association. However, CHS under 60 reported parallels more frequently (47.5% vs. 37.9%, p ≤ 0.05). CHS who made this connection often came from families with a strong Holocaust memory and had a heightened interest in the Shoah and their family’s history. They more frequently report the behavior of their parents indirectly linked to the experience of the Shoah with a climate of overprotection while having been educated in the idea that one must always be ready to face the hazards of life . Conclusion : This study is the first to confirm the COVID-19 pandemic’s psychological impact on CHS. Developing prevention programs to support descendants of mass trauma and natural disaster survivors is essential to prepare for similar future situations.