Affiliations: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Sharon L. Yaroslawitz, University of Oklahoma
Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK, USA. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Intergenerational transmission of survivor
syndrome places the health of family occupation of Chareidi second and
third generation survivors of the Holocaust at risk. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experience and
capture the essence of family health from the perspective of this cultural
group. METHODS: Guided by phenomenological research design, 5
participants were interviewed. They described their perception of the health of
their families and how experiences in Nazi death camps impacted their families'
health. RESULTS: Family health is an experience of being together and
doing together. Generational transmission of family health was disrupted by the
Holocaust. Dysfunction exists in generations that were produced by the
survivors. Daily effort is required to reverse the effects of the Holocaust and
establish connections with subsequent generations. CONCLUSION: The essence of occupational therapy is described as "being before doing", which
is the cornerstone of individual health and well-being; and in this case family
health. This study investigates a cultural group who is experiencing
intergenerational transmission of trauma that disrupts family health.
Opportunities to examine family health in all settings and consider
implications for interventions should be explored.
Keywords: Family occupation, occupational therapy, phenomenology, survivor syndrome
