TREEGENES, the Transgenerational Transmission of Trauma and Resilience Study

Lanzmans’ statement (1985)‘Traumatic experiences can cause the sensation that `time will not stop not passing`, is no common knowledge in The Netherlands. Up until the 1960’ not more than a handful of articles addressed the emotional aftermath of the war and specialized health workers in the area of trauma were rare. Psychological assistance was still in its infancy. Behind closed doors stories about the war were often the most important subject of discussion. Victims, specialists, the government, and the public retreated to a position from which they were unable, individually or working together, to dissolve the tensions.

TREEGENES, the Transgenerational Transmission of Trauma and Resilience Study researches the medical impact and consequences of the Holocaust on Dutch (child)survivors, the Second Generation (children of), 2G and the Third Generation (grandchildren), 3G. Although much has been published on the psychosocial impact of the genocidal events on the individual, almost nothing is known about the psycosial responses. Epigenetics indicate damage done to the DNA which has symptoms like, an increased vulnerability for, chronic high blood-pressure and permanent higher levels of heart rate. Compared to control groups, members of 2G age prematurely and suffer from a variety of illnesses related to the stress their parents endured during the Holocaust.

TREEGENES places physical measurements within their historical dynamic (see above) in order to gain insights in the reciprocal effects between experiences of genocidal violence and the resilience of survivors and descendants.