The Lingering Shadows of Oppression: How Communist-Era Persecution Still Affects Families Today

A groundbreaking new study by Dr. Edel Sanders and doc. Marek Preiss uncovers the lasting psychological impact of state oppression in former Czechoslovakia.

The research focuses on families forced into exile during the brutal “Asanace” campaign—a so-called “sanitation” effort by the Communist regime to silence dissidents. By comparing these families across two generations with control groups who did not experience oppression, the study sheds light on how historical trauma is passed down.

The findings are striking: the second generation—children of exiled dissidents—reported more severe stress and trauma-related symptoms than their parents. They also showed a reduced ability to cope with stress, suggesting that the scars of political persecution don’t just fade with time; they ripple through generations.

This research contributes to understanding historical trauma and resilience in post-totalitarian societies across Central and Eastern Europe.