[Bombed out--psychic and psychosomatic long term consequences of World War II for the cohort born until 1945 in the year 2004]

Abstract

Objectives: In a population-based study the hypothesis was pursued as to what extent psychiatric consequences of specific war experiences of the cohort born up to 1945, exemplified through the fate of those bombed out during World War II, can be proven.

Methods: A representative sample of 2552 participants (1206 men and 1346 women) with an age range from 14 to 92 years were questioned using the random-route-technique by an opinion research institute. The subsample of the cohort born until 1945 was comprised of 776 participants (30.4 % of the complete sample), of whom 375 were men (48.3 %) and 401 women.

Results: 161 participants (20.7 % of the cohort born until 1945) had been bombed out (66 men and 95 women). Comparing those who had been bombed out to those who had not been did not show any significant differences concerning their age, their place of residence (Eastern vs. Western Germany), marital status, education level or income level. From a gender perspective women had been bombed out more frequently (p < .05). Four predictors rendered in a multiple regression analysis significant contributions for the prediction of negative body functioning: age, having been bombed out, low income level and low education level (9 % of the variance could be explained).

Conclusions: The results show the necessity for a new approach to the long-term consequences of severe strain and traumata concerning psychopathology of older people. For this purpose the concept of ambivalence must be further developed.