Transgenerational trauma and resilience in post-communist Central Europe: A comparative study of survivors, their descendants, and control groups

Background: One way to explore the psychological consequences of state oppression is by focusing on the lasting effects on survivors and their descendants. Objective: In the context of former Czechoslovakia, this study compares the experiences of two generations of families expelled from the country during the "Asanace" campaign with control groups of people whose families have not encountered any forms of oppression. Method: Overall, 58 people participated; 29 from the first and second generations were matched with 29 controls. Questionnaires assessing the severity of stress and trauma-related symptoms, coping strategies, resilience, and family communication were administered. Results: No significant differences were found between the first generation of survivors and the control group. The analysis revealed heightened vulnerability of the second generation as the group reported higher severity of stress and trauma-related symptoms and lower ability to recover from stress. Conclusions: This study investigates the psychological consequences of state oppression on Czechoslovakian dissidents and their offspring, contributing to the understanding of historical trauma and resilience in post- totalitarian countries of Eastern and Central Europe.