Long-term coping of Holocaust survivors: a typology

The nature of long-range impairment resulting from exposure to the atrocities of the Holocaust has been studied extensively. Some survivors reported a high level of psychological distress, while others, who were exposed to similar experiences, reported little, if any, symptoms. The present study aimed to validate Danieli's (1-3) typology of differentiated patterns of long-term coping and adaptation among Holocaust survivors in an Israeli sample.

A sample of 150 Holocaust survivors participated in this study. Data were gathered as part of a larger study that assessed long-term coping styles of elderly Holocaust survivors when confronted with another life-threatening event, namely cancer.

The results point to the heterogeneous coping styles of Holocaust survivors and enable the formulation of a Survivor's Typology describing three types of adaptation: The "Victim," the "Fighter" and "Those Who Made It." The "Victim" type was found to be the most vulnerable. The "Fighter" and "Those Who Made It" types, who comprised over 80% of the sample, reported successful adaptation in the aftermath of the Holocaust.