Key result
Holocaust experience was associated with higher post-traumatic stress symptoms and post-traumatic growth, which mediated better heart rate variability scores compared to matched controls.
Why the study?
To evaluate post-traumatic stress symptoms, post-traumatic growth, and heart rate variability in elderly Holocaust survivors compared with matched controls, including the mediational effect of these psychological factors on heart rate variability.
Does early-life trauma (Holocaust experience) affect post-traumatic stress symptoms, post-traumatic growth, and heart rate variability in the elderly?
Observational (n=246)
Does early-life trauma (Holocaust experience) affect post-traumatic stress symptoms, post-traumatic growth, and heart rate variability in the elderly?
Early-life trauma in Holocaust survivors is associated with higher post-traumatic stress and growth, which mediate an integrated effect on heart rate variability.
Early-life trauma associations with HRV in survivors should not change practice; leaves open mediation by post-traumatic growth.
Objectives: To study post-traumatic stress symptoms and post-traumatic growth and heart rate variability among elderly Holocaust survivors and a matched comparison group and the mediational effect of post-traumatic stress symptoms and post-traumatic growth on the association between Holocaust experience and heart rate variability.Method: 159 Holocaust survivors and 87 matched participants without Holocaust experience answered post-traumatic stress symptoms and post-traumatic growth questionnaires. Heart rate variability time and frequency parameters were measured for a subsample of N = 133.Results: Holocaust survivors reported higher levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms and post-traumatic growth. Most heart rate variability measures were similar in the two groups, except for better heart rate variability measured by the ratio of low frequency/high frequency among Holocaust survivors. Structural equation modeling showed that belonging to the Holocaust survivor group was associated with higher post-traumatic stress symptoms and higher post-traumatic growth, as well as better heart rate variability scores (standard deviation of normal to normal R-R intervals, high frequency and the ratio of low frequency/high frequency) through the mediation of post-traumatic stress symptoms and post-traumatic growth.Conclusions: The study emphasized the duality of the association between post-traumatic stress symptoms and post-traumatic growth and their integrated effect on heart rate variability.
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Kimron et al. (2019) conducted an observational in Early-life trauma (Holocaust survivors) (n=246). Holocaust experience (early-life trauma) vs. Matched participants without Holocaust experience was evaluated on Post-traumatic stress symptoms, post-traumatic growth, and heart rate variability. Holocaust experience was associated with higher post-traumatic stress symptoms and post-traumatic growth, which mediated better heart rate variability scores compared to matched controls.
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