Cumulative Stress Experiences of Holocaust Survivors and the Immigrant Comparison Group

Our study on the impact of the Holocaust on survivors' lives has been anchored in the broader stress paradigm (Pearlin, 1989; Dohrenwend, 1998; Wheaton, 1994). Researchers in this burgeoning field have increasingly recognized the importance of aggregating life long stressors, which may involve phenomena ranging from daily hassles to severe trauma. Even as we focus on the aftermath of one of the most extreme forms of adversity known to man, we are interested in taking a more detailed look at life long stress experiences of survivors and members of the comparison group. Additionally, we consider the role of recent life events (Krause, 1991) in contributing to cumulative stress endured by our respondents.