Orphaned Child Survivors Compared to Child Survivors Whose Parents Also Survived the Holocaust Shalom Robinson, M.D., Michal Rapaport-Bar-Sever, Judith Rapaport Coping and Adjustment After the Second World War Twenty-six percent of those whose parents survived were qualified for an academic profession such as lawyers or doctors, as compared to only 14% of those whose parents were killed. The first group adjusted better to Israel and only 3% reported absorption problems as compared to 8% of the orphans. However, there was no difference as to the positions they held, and which many still hold in their places of work. Forty-two percent of the first group and 43% of the second group attained senior positions at work. More persons whose parents were killed suffered after the war from symptoms of survivor syndrome. For 8 of the 13 symptoms of survivor syndrome, the percentage of orphaned children suffering was greater (Table 2). Table 2: The Survivor Syndrome After the Holocaust by Parental Survival (%) Symptom Orphans Parents Survived Nervousness 51 54 Insomnia 40 36 Nightmares With Holocaust Content 59 53 Headaches 45 32 Psychosomatic Complaints 25 26 Emotional Instability 51 50 Depression 29 31 Fatigue 38 36 Hypermnesia Concerning Holocaust Events 67 60 Survivor Guilt 46 30 Chronic Anxiety 30 40 Difficulty in Concentration 24 27 Anhedonia 43 36 Suffering and Adjustment Today Persons whose parents survived the war adjust better even today. A greater percentage of them, compared to those whose parents were killed, still work in their profession. They are less isolated, a greater percentage married an Israeli-born spouse, and they report a smaller influence of their own Holocaust memories on their children (Table 3). As for suffering today from symptoms of survivor syndrome, the only nearly statistically significant difference between the two groups is in the survivor guilt feelings. Orphaned persons suffer more from survivor guilt even today compared with those whose parents survived: 39% compared to 23%, P=0.093. Table 3: Parental Survival and Adjustment Today: Comparison Between Persons Whose Parents Survived and Orphaned Children (%)   Orphans Parents Survived Still Work in Their Profession 54 68 Social Isolation 43 29 Spouse Also Holocaust Survivor 66 52 Influence on Second Generation 56 47 Persons orphaned during the Holocaust suffer today more than the other group from disabling physical diseases: 46% compared to 29%. More of them feel themselves still affected by the Holocaust than of those whose parents survived: 76% compared to 58% (Table 4). Table 4: Suffering Today: A Comparison Between Persons Whose Parents Survived and Orphaned Children (%)   Orphans Parents Survived Guilt Feelings 39 23 Disabling Physical Diseases 46 29 Feel Themselves Still Suffering From the Holocaust 76 58 [Page 2 of 3]