A systematic review of Holocaust-related trauma transmission: Exploring systemic trauma

The scientific literature highlights that the dynamics of systemic trauma are poorly understood and that its health effects remain understudied. The aim of this research is to explore the results of quantitative studies on the transmission of Holocaust-related trauma, in order to provide a unified overview of the evidence concerning the second and third generations. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Four databases were selected to search for relevant studies: Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, and PubMed. Ninety-six studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies were published between 1988 and 2025 and included a total sample of 78,519 participants. Among these studies, 81 found an effect of the Holocaust experienced by the first generation on subsequent generations, 11 found no effect, and 4 found partial effects. These findings advance clinical and research understanding of the principal patterns and processes through which trauma may be transmitted across generations, as well as its long-term consequences. At the same time, because this review synthesizes heterogeneous studies, some methodological and contextual specificities of individual studies may be less fully captured in the overall synthesis.