The Cognitive and Psychological Impact of Collective Existential Annihilation Anxiety The Case of Halabja Chemical Attack

Abstract
Objective: We aimed to assess the impact of extreme events associated with collective existential annihilation anxiety (EAA), such as the Halabja chemical attack on Iraqi Kurds 35 years ago. Method: We recruited 437 survivors and their offspring. We developed a scale to measure the severity of the chemical attack, employed measures that assess EAA, executive functions, PTSD, complex PTSD (CPTSD), depression, anxiety, the Will to Exist Live Survive (WTELS), resilience, and posttraumatic growth (PTG). We conducted correlation, SEM, and PROCESS-Macro analyses to examine the impact of the attack, and t test to measure differences between survivors and offspring. Results: The attack was associated with EAA and negatively impacted working memory and coping variables (resilience, PTG, and WTELS-F). Working memory deficits, EAA, and lower coping contributed to higher CPTSD, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. EAA moderated the mediated effects of depression and anxiety on CPTSD and the effects of CPTSD on anxiety. EAA was a significant moderator for the direct effects of the Halabja attack on anxiety and moderated the mediated effects of CPTSD. When comparing survivors to offspring, survivors showed greater EAA, working memory deficits, and PTG. There were no significant differences between them in low resilience, WTELS-F, and high PTSD, CPTSD, or depression. Conclusion: The cognitive and mental health impact of annihilation-threatening events is severe even after 35 years. The descendants continue to experience the effects of intergenerational trauma stemming from the attack. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and support systems for victims of EAA-associated events and their descendants.

Author
Darya Rostam Ahmed

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1027/2157-3891/a000150

ISSN
2157-3883

Publish Date: 7-May-2026