Hymie Anisman, Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University
Distress Across Generations
Stressful events have been associated with a variety of pathological conditions, including psychological disturbances, heart disease, diabetes and immune-related disorders. Chronic stressors and those of a traumatic nature may be still more challenging to our well-being. Moreover, stressful experiences may affect biological processes so that the consequences of later stressor experiences may be exacerbated. Beyond the effects of trauma on survivors, these experiences can through psychosocial and biological (epigenetic) processes have profound intergenerational consequences. There are, however, appreciable individual differences regarding the impact of stressors. These differences are related to the way we appraise and cope with stressors, including the availability of social support resources, how we self-identify, and the meaning that is made regarding the trauma.