80 years after the end of the war: DZPG research explores the intergenerational impact of trauma
The Second World War not only claimed millions of lives but also inflicted profound psychological wounds on its survivors. Jewish individuals who endured the Shoah, along with countless other victims of German atrocities, were especially affected. Death, displacement, and the experience of violence left deep and lasting scars. Now, eighty years later, two groundbreaking studies by the German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) illuminate how the psychological aftermath of such traumas continues to reverberate across generations.
This phenomenon is particularly well-documented among the descendants of Holocaust survivors. Yet it also extends to the children and grandchildren of the perpetrator generation, individuals subjected to injustices under the East German regime, and refugees fleeing present-day wars and crises. What unites them is a shared legacy: the psychological and biological consequences of extreme stress are not confined to a single generation but can leave enduring imprints on family relationships—and even on genetic material itself.
How does trauma leave its mark on our genes?
Prof. Dr. Dr. Elisabeth Binder, Director and Scientific Member at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich since 2013, investigates how severe stressors such as war and persecution become biologically "inscribed" in the body. Research demonstrates that the stress hormone systems of children whose parents endured traumatic experiences—such as Holocaust survivors—are measurably altered. Binder’s work focuses on the epigenetic mechanisms that underlie these changes. “We observe modifications in the epigenetic regulation of genes critical to stress response," Binder explains. A striking example is the FKBP5 gene: In collaboration with distinguished trauma researcher Rachel Yehuda, Binder identified distinct differences in the methylation patterns of this gene among children of Holocaust survivors. These biological alterations may impact stress resilience, potentially across multiple generations.
As part of a DZPG initiative, Binder and her team are employing biomarkers and model systems to investigate how vulnerability to mental illness may be transmitted over time. Binder has also detected evidence of prenatal stress exposure in umbilical cord blood—epigenetic markers associated with maternal depression and anxiety during pregnancy that correlate with increased later use of medical and psychological support by the children.
Moreover, in so-called "brain organoids"—miniature brain models derived from stem cells—researchers have observed that prenatal stress hormones can influence neuronal development. The overarching aim of this research is to identify early indicators of vulnerability, paving the way for timely preventive interventions.
Transmission through disrupted interactions
Psychological pathways also play a significant role in the transmission of trauma. Hanna Christiansen, Professor of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology at Philipps University Marburg, is leading a study at the DZPG Bochum-Marburg partner site examining how mental health disorders are passed on within families through disrupted interactions and adverse life circumstances. Her research reveals that children of mentally ill parents are considerably more likely to develop psychological disorders themselves. Often, it is subtle, everyday mechanisms—such as a lack of parental responsiveness, insufficient structure, or overwhelming emotional states—that profoundly shape a child’s emotional world and, ultimately, their psychological health.
Research underscores: addressing trauma remains a vital task
DZPG spokesperson Prof. Peter Falkai places the findings in context: "Both studies compellingly demonstrate that the transgenerational transmission of trauma is not an abstract concept but rather a multifaceted response of the individual, unfolding at both molecular and psychological levels." Prof. Silvia Schneider, who is also a DZPG spokesperson, adds: "It is a phenomenon that touches not only the victims of National Socialism but also those who suffered under the East German regime, refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, or Ukraine, and, importantly, children in contemporary Germany growing up with mentally ill parents."
Source: German Center for Mental Health