From Vulnerability to Flourishing: Genetic Sensitivity, Family Environment, and Social Support in Intergenerational Trauma and Resilience
Abstract
Intergenerational trauma research has increasingly emphasized the role of both psychological and biological factors in shaping vulnerability and resilience across generations. The present study examined whether gene × environment interactions involving the DRD4 dopamine receptor exon 3 genetic variant could predict trauma-related and positive mental health outcomes among second- and third-generation offspring of Holocaust survivors. Altogether 256 offspring (175 children and 81 grandchildren) of Holocaust survivors completed self-report measures of childhood adversity, family vulnerability and resilience, current social support, and mental health outcomes, and provided genetic sample. Results showed that Family vulnerability and Social support predicted trauma-related and resilient outcomes, respectively, and that carrying the DRD4 7-repeat allele amplified sensitivity to both adverse and protective environments. Childhood family vulnerability predicted posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms significantly only in DRD4 7-repeat allele carriers but not among those without it, while current social support predicted resilience and flourishing also more strongly in 7-repeat allele carriers. Our findings provide empirical support for the DRD4 7-repeat allele as a differential susceptibility variant in an intergenerational trauma context, indicating that the same genetic variant that increases vulnerability in adverse family environments also enhances capacity for flourishing in supportive contexts. The findings suggest that more vulnerable individuals might also be capable of exceptional thriving, given a supportive environment, and that offering family-based and parenting interventions, and community building initiatives for trauma-affected families have the potential to reduce negative and increase positive mental health outcomes, not only in childhood but throughout the lifespan.
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BibTeX
@misc{bekes2026from,
title = {{From Vulnerability to Flourishing: Genetic Sensitivity, Family Environment, and Social Support in Intergenerational Trauma and Resilience}},
author = {Vera Bekes and Judit Gervai and Aranyi Tamas and Adel Schein and Zsofia Nemoda},
howpublished = {PsyArXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.31234/osf.io/bd4vt_v1},
url = {https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/bd4vt_v1/},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - From Vulnerability to Flourishing: Genetic Sensitivity, Family Environment, and Social Support in Intergenerational Trauma and Resilience
AU - Vera Bekes
AU - Judit Gervai
AU - Aranyi Tamas
AU - Adel Schein
AU - Zsofia Nemoda
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/17
PB - PsyArXiv
DO - 10.31234/osf.io/bd4vt_v1
UR - https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/bd4vt_v1/
AB - Intergenerational trauma research has increasingly emphasized the role of both psychological and biological factors in shaping vulnerability and resilience across generations. The present study examined whether gene × environment interactions involving the DRD4 dopamine receptor exon 3 genetic variant could predict trauma-related and positive mental health outcomes among second- and third-generation offspring of Holocaust survivors. Altogether 256 offspring (175 children and 81 grandchildren) of Holocaust survivors completed self-report measures of childhood adversity, family vulnerability and resilience, current social support, and mental health outcomes, and provided genetic sample. Results showed that Family vulnerability and Social support predicted trauma-related and resilient outcomes, respectively, and that carrying the DRD4 7-repeat allele amplified sensitivity to both adverse and protective environments. Childhood family vulnerability predicted posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms significantly only in DRD4 7-repeat allele carriers but not among those without it, while current social support predicted resilience and flourishing also more strongly in 7-repeat allele carriers. Our findings provide empirical support for the DRD4 7-repeat allele as a differential susceptibility variant in an intergenerational trauma context, indicating that the same genetic variant that increases vulnerability in adverse family environments also enhances capacity for flourishing in supportive contexts. The findings suggest that more vulnerable individuals might also be capable of exceptional thriving, given a supportive environment, and that offering family-based and parenting interventions, and community building initiatives for trauma-affected families have the potential to reduce negative and increase positive mental health outcomes, not only in childhood but throughout the lifespan.
ER -