Depth Interview V. General Adjustment, Mental Health and Persecution Before Immigration

Abstract

Chapter Eleven contains findings pointing to a difference between mental trauma caused by antisemitic discrimination and that caused by persecution by the Nazi regime in their impact on general adjustment and mental health. Antisemitic discrimination in childhood and adolescence and discrimination and persecution in adulthood are related to worse mental health. The most striking fact is, however, that persecution in adulthood appears to be related to better general adjustment. Severe persecution in adulthood in camps, prisons, etc. too is related to better adjustment but not to mental health. This finding is similar to those reported by some other authors, whose publications are briefly reviewed.