Examining the functional utility of personal growth initiative in a war-affected Sri Lankan Tamil sample.

A Demaske,Laura E R Blackie,Nuwan Jayawickreme,Eranda Jayawickreme

doi:10.1037/aap0000196

Abstract

Examining the functional utility of personal growth initiative in a war-affected Sri Lankan Tamil sample.

Highlights

The purpose of this paper is to explore the functional benefits of personal growth initiative (PGI) in a war-affected Sri Lankan sample
Given the limited work assessing PGI in samples affected by ethnopolitical warfare, we examined its functional utility of among a war-affected Sri Lankan sample
Construct Validity of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale (PGIS) The PGIS demonstrated construct validity in-line with other studies of the PGIS with non-western samples, though dimensionality of the construct could not be assessed with this version of the PGIS

Summary

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to explore the functional benefits of personal growth initiative (PGI) in a war-affected Sri Lankan sample. Recent research on displaced individuals has emphasized the value of investigating depression, PTSD, and economic obstacles of displaced and conflict-affected persons, and the individual’s strengths and resources to foster resilience (e.g., Frazier et al, 2011; Jayawickreme et al, 2013; Jayawickreme & Blackie, 2014; Jayawickreme, Jayawickreme, Zachry, & Goonasekera, 2019; Shing, Jayawickreme, & Waugh, 2016) This resilience-focused perspective accounts for the experiences of many individuals who experience potentiallytraumatic events without developing lasting mental health challenges, as well as individuals who continue to function adequately in daily life along despite challenges with their mental health (Miller et al, 2006). PGI was found to predict lower levels of functional impairment among survivors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide (Blackie et al, 2015) This may be because flexibility, focus on personal growth, and ability to develop a concrete action plan have the potential to help individuals cope with daily stressors related to their conflict-related experiences (Miller & Rasmussen, 2010).

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Conclusion