Posttraumatic Symptoms and Thought Control Strategies among Aging Hidden Jewish Children

This study examined the severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and the coping strategies of 51 aging hidden children (28 women and 23 men) 65 years after the Holocaust. Results indicated a positive relation between age and PTSD symptoms that was fully mediated by sense of danger and education. Regression analyses showed that lower educational level ([beta] = -0.32) and more reappraisals ([beta] = -0.38) were associated with severity of PTSD symptoms. Reappraisal also predicted intrusions ([beta] = 0.36) and arousal ([beta] = 0.37). (Contains 1 figure and 4 tables.)