Exploring Sexual Reminiscing After the Death of a Romantic Partner

Objectives: Post-traumatic growth (PTG) and its opposite—post-traumatic depreciation (PTD)—may be treated as important indicators of the patient quality of life. In the absence of studies on both, PTG and PTD in cancer patients, we investigated (1) coping strategies and support effectiveness as predictors of PTG and PTD in post-mastectomy women, (2) homogeneous classes with different intensity of PTG and PTD symptoms, and (3) correlates of class membership.Methods: Coping strategies (Brief COPE), support effectiveness (SSE-Q), PTG (PTGI), and PTD (negatively reworded items of PTGI) were measured in 84 post-mastectomy women (mean age = 62.27, SD = 8.38). Multiple regression, two-step cluster, and multinomial logistic regression were applied.Results: PTG and PTD had unique predictors: time since diagnosis and positive emotion-focused coping predicted PTG (R2 = 0.24), while negative emotion-focused and avoidance-focused coping and low support effectiveness were linked to PTD (R2 = 0.14). Four groups of PTG × PTD symptoms were identified: high PTG low PTD group (52.4%), low PTG low PTD group (17.9%), high PTG high PTD group (15.5%), and low PTG high PTD group (14.3%). Higher emotion- and avoidance-focused coping was characteristic for the high PTD low PTG group (R2 = 0.41).Conclusion: Our findings shed light on the coexistence and unique predictors of PTG and PTD after mastectomy, indicating heterogeneity in PTG and PTD levels among post-mastectomy women.

The study identified different patterns of symptom burden and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among patients with cancer and to explored the effects of sociodemographic, disease-related, and family resilience factors, which could provide reference for the development of personalized nursing measures. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 329 patients with cancer who were undergoing treatment. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to explore the patterns of symptom burden and PTG among patients with cancer, and multiple logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of different patterns. Based on the fit indicators of LPA, a three-class pattern model of posttraumatic responses was shown to be optimal, including resisting, struggling, and growth groups. In the resisting group (34.34%), patients reported low symptom burden and low PTG; in the struggling group (19.15%), patients showed a high symptom burden and moderate PTG; in the growth group (46.51%), patients showed low symptom burden and high PTG. Moreover, patients with cancer with high levels of family resilience were more likely to fall into the struggling and growth groups. Specifically, those with lower scores in the optimistic attitude and higher scores in the family and social support dimension of family resilience were more likely to fall into the struggling group, whereas those with lower scores in the transcendence and spiritual belief dimensions of family resilience were more likely to fall into the resisting group. Additionally, patients with at least three children were more likely to fall into the struggling group. This study showed heterogeneity in symptom burden and PTG patterns among patients with cancer. Patients' growth must include both psychological growth and the mitigated symptom burden. Family factors may be intervention targets to improve the growth patterns.

This study investigated factors associated with post-traumatic growth (PTG) after severe traumatic societal events. Utilizing a quota-representative sample of 931 Israeli Jews, we assessed individual and community PTG following the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023, alongside a range of factors guided by Bronfenbrenner's Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) model. Using data-driven techniques, we identified three distinct growth profiles: relatively high individual and collective PTG (n = 354), high PTG on all dimensions (n = 273), and secular growth showing high PTG in general but not in spiritual terms (n = 322). Higher levels of religious identification, involvement, and coping, altruistic behaviour, social support, optimism, and mindfulness, as well as lower levels of pessimism, were found in the group(s) with the highest PTG. This research highlights the potentially high societal resilience reported after a large-scale traumatic event, identifying factors that may be tested for their potential to maximize growth in the aftermath of trauma.

Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) are possible reactions to exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) during military service. However, knowledge about patterns of both PTSS and PTG among female combat veterans is sparse. This study examines constellations of PTSS and PTG among Israeli female combat veterans, as well as military-related exposure and positive psychological correlates of these constellations. A volunteer sample of Israeli women combat veterans (n = 885) responded to self-report questionnaires in a cross-sectional design study. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify four profiles characterized by unique constellations of PTSS and PTG: moderate PTSS and high PTG (33%), moderate PTSS and moderate PTG (30%), low PTSS and high PTG (30%), and low PTSS and PTG (5.5%). Higher levels of combat experiences were associated with higher odds of inclusion in the moderate PTSS and high PTG and moderate PTSS and moderate PTG profiles. Moreover, compared to the other classes, both low PTSS and high PTG and moderate PTSS and high PTG classes were associated with higher levels of satisfaction with life and happiness psychological outcomes. The study's findings offer an overview of the complex pattern of associations between PTSS, PTG, and associated predictors and outcomes. Clinicians treating female veterans should be aware of the varying reactions to military service challenges, including the presence of moderate to high levels of PTG reactions in addition to PTSS.

Research shows that mature entry and school leaver students have vastly different experiences when transitioning to the university environment. It is suggested that the transition to university is a major life transition and thus is a period of great stress. For mature entry students and school leaver students, the impacts upon adjustment to university are varied during the transition to university study. It has been proposed that for successful university adjustment, high levels of resilience are needed. Psychological resilience is an individual's tendency to cope with stress and adversity. This coping may result in the individual bouncing to a previous state of normal functioning, or simply not showing negative effects. A third, more controversial form of resilience is sometimes referred to as 'posttraumatic growth' or 'steeling effects' where in the experience adversity leads to better functioning (much like an inoculation gives one the capacity to cope well with future exposure to disease). Resilience is most commonly understood as a process, and not a trait of an individual. Several years ago, researchers began to consider why some people are better to endure and overcome the stress associated with potentially traumatic events than others. The ability to confront and adapt to stress and adversity is now commonly referred to as resilience (Block & Kreman, 1996). The construct of resiliency may help us to better understand the key characteristics and coping strategies that enable some individual to avoid the potentially debilitating effects of extreme stress and trauma. Resilience is having the skills or attributes to recover quickly from a mental, physical or emotional crisis. Some individuals seem to have a natural ability to bounce back from adverse circumstances; others have to learn how to become resilient.In a study that examined post-bereavement responses ,resilient people were those who were characterized as experiencing less enduring grief symptoms after the loss of a loved one (Bonano et al., 2002),after controlling other predictors such as subjective wellbeing, researchers found that resilient individuals also scored higher on indexes of global adjustment ,work and social adjustment and psychological and physical health adjustment (Klohmen,1996). Resilient people are less likely to perceive uncertainty, confidence in their coping resources ,more likely to make positive meaning of adversity, and more efficient in their learning. Resilient person has an internal locus of control, healthy self-esteem and well-being, and has developed adaptive coping skills. Resilience depends on personality, childhood and experience etc. Some people are strong willed and simply refuse to be victim. This has a lot to do with self confidence or self-esteem and well-being as well. One of the major focuses in psychology relating to resilience is a trait called Hardiness. This is our level of resilience in a difficult situation. The theory behind this is that those people who have more attributes relating to hardiness are better equipped to deal with life's challenges. Those who do not possess as many attributes relating to hardiness are not well equipped to deal with these situations.Health is an individuals' normal condition, his/her birth right .It is the result of living in accordance with the natural laws pertaining to the body, mind and environment. The World Health Organization (1964) defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Well-being is differentiated into psychological and physical well-being.Psychological well-being is thus a wide ranging concept that embraces effective aspects of everyday experiences. Negative and bivalent components of well-being are relatively easily assessed through self-report such as anxiety, happiness, job satisfaction or personnel esteem (Maslow, 1973).Warr (1987) distinguished between five aspects of mental health which include affective well-being, competence, autonomy, level of aspiration and integrative functioning which refers to the balance between the dimensions leading to high resilience to stress in the individual. …

Since the 2000s, community art has become widely established as a way to revitalize the region through urban regeneration. This article statistically tested the impact of community art activists’ authenticity on the performance and effect of community art projects. The analysis result is that, first of all, activist authenticity has a positive effect on the socio-cultural, economic, and living environmental performance of the project. Second, the authenticity of the activists directly affects the emotional bond to the local community or indirectly through the socio-cultural performance of the project. Finally, cause-effect paths of ‘activist authenticity – socio-cultural performance – emotional bond – psychological well-being’ and ‘activist authenticity – emotional bond – psychological well-being

Background. The phenomenon of post-traumatic growth (PTG), which consists of significant positive changes in the personality due to the experience of a difficult life crisis, is currently considered an effective countermeasure to the destructive consequences of psycho-emotional stress. Purpose – is to determine the individual psychological predictors of PTG among medical students in the context of a large-scale social crisis. Materials and methods. In compliance with the requirements of biomedical ethics and based on informed consent, an anonymous questionnaire and psychodiagnostic examination of 152 medical students was conducted during October– November 2024. According to the subjective assessment of the severity of the stress experienced by an individual during their life, the students were distributed as follows: 7.2% of the surveyed assessed the most severe stress they experienced in their lives as mild, 23.7% as moderate, 42.8% as severe, and 26.3% as very severe. The psychodiagnostic tools of the study consisted of The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) questionnaire, the Mini-Mult questionnaire, and the J.B. Rotter locus of control measurement questionnaire. Results. It was found that the individual-personal profiles of students with low and high PTG are somewhat similar, with differences in the expressiveness of character traits, which are manifested by significantly higher indicators on the Mini-Mult scales: hypochondria (53.49 ± 10.01 points in students with low PTG vs 48.80 ± 10.18 in students with high PTG, p = 0.002), depression (49.08 ± 11.51 points vs 42.17 ± 9.81, p < 0.0001), hysteria (51.70 ± 10.16 points vs 45.77 ± 9.71, p < 0.0001), psychopathy (51.09 ± 14.69 points vs 44.44 ± 13.83, p = 0.008), rigidity (49.40 ± 11.66 points vs 44.63 ± 10.25, p = 0.018), psychasthenia (52.31 ± 12.01 points vs 45.07 ± 12.36, p < 0.0001) and schizoidism (53.19 ± 10.78 points vs 48.28 ± 10.74, p = 0.014). Students with low PTG were characterized by the dominance of the external locus of control, which is associated with the tendency to consider one’s own successes or failures as the result of mainly external forces, passivity, a sense of one’s own inferiority, low self-esteem and self-respect, a low level of aspirations and a desire for external support and help: 12.61 ± 3.90 points vs 10.99 ± 3.19 (p = 0.004). Students with high PTG were characterized by a greater expressiveness of the internal locus of control, which is associated with the belief in the ability to influence the course of events through their own activity, a high level of aspirations, activity in achieving goals, independence in judgments and actions, the desire to change reality, high self-esteem, and orientation to their own efforts to overcome problems: 12.00 ± 3.20 points vs 10.39 ± 3.90 for students with low PTG (p = 0.005). Correlation analysis revealed significant inverse correlations of the PTGI index with the indicators on the scales of psychasthenia (rS = –0.360), depression (rS = –0.307), hysteria (rS = –0.283), psychopathy (rS = –0.276), schizoidism (rS = –0.235), hypochondria (rS = –0.222) and rigidity (rS = –0.170). External locus of control was negatively correlated with PTG, and internal locus of control was positively correlated with PTG (rS = 0.165 and rS = –0.165, respectively, p = 0.042). Conclusion. The results obtained allow us to conclude that individual and personality characteristics are an important, but not the only factor of PTG, and determine the need for further research into relevant factors that may have an impact on PTG.

Experiencing traumatic events may invoke posttraumatic symptoms (PTS) or growth (PTG). Using a dual-factor approach inspired by the dual-factor model of mental health, we explore the intersections of posttraumatic symptoms and growth with 21 strengths and indicators of psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being. A survey completed by 1,966 participants who had experienced at least one prior victimization (average age 29.8 [SD = 1.64]; 63.6% female) assessed strengths, outcomes, and victimization. Participants were classified into four posttraumatic groups: Resilient (low symptoms, high growth, 23.9%), Prevailed (high symptoms, high growth, 26.1% of sample), Detached (low symptoms, low growth, 20.3%), and Distressed (high symptoms, low growth, 29.8%). Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) controlling for age, gender, and victimization found that posttraumatic group classification was associated with each regulatory, meaning-making, and interpersonal strength, and every well-being measure. The Distressed group scored the lowest and the Resilient group scored the highest on almost all measures. Notably, the Prevailed group scored above the Detached group on most measures, except for health-related quality of life and optimism, suggesting that high growth may be more beneficial than low symptoms when coping with trauma. Findings suggest that coping after trauma is more complex than merely doing well or doing poorly in response to trauma. Promoting posttraumatic growth may help even highly symptomatic people achieve well-being after trauma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

This study compared the practice of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for psychosis across research and routine clinical settings. An observer-rated adherence measure was used to compare the content of 40 therapy sessions of clients with positive psychotic symptoms. Twenty therapist-client dyads came from a research setting in the United Kingdom and 20 from three clinical settings, two in the United Kingdom and one in the United States. In the research setting CBT was provided by research clinical psychologists and trained local therapists. In the clinical settings CBT was part of a case management service by trained therapists. Therapist adherence to CBT for psychosis did not differ between the research and clinical settings. However, clinicians in the research settings scored significantly higher on items for schema work (z=-1.98, p<.05), relapse prevention interventions (z=-2.08, p<.05), and formulating a model of relapse (z=-2.61, p<.01). CBT for psychosis conducted in clinical settings was more strongly characterized by assessment of symptoms and work on coping strategies and less so by relapse prevention and schema-level work. Relapse prevention interventions and schema work could be considered more challenging for therapists to undertake. The findings suggest that therapists working in routine clinical settings are able to establish good therapeutic relationships with people with psychosis and to work on assessing and coping with their psychotic symptoms. However, some therapeutic approaches may be more challenging in this context.

Problematic Pornography Use (PPU) is an increasingly recognized public health concern, with increasing evidence of its potential adverse consequences for individuals' psychological well-being, interpersonal relationships, and daily functioning. Accurate assessment of PPU is therefore essential for effective screening, diagnosis, and intervention. However, the field is characterized by a proliferation of outcome measures (OMs) with diverse theoretical foundations, inconsistent definitions, and limited cross-population validation. This systematic review was pre-registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD420251008765) and followed the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) Version 2.0 guidelines to identify, evaluate, and compare OMs used to assess PPU, as well as to offer recommendations for selecting appropriate OMs in research and clinical settings. A comprehensive search was conducted across four databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycInfo) from database inception to February 28, 2025, with an additional supplementary search conducted on October 19, 2025. A total of 47 studies reporting on 24 OMs were included. While structural validity and internal consistency were frequently assessed, content validity, test-retest reliability, measurement error, and responsiveness were infrequently reported for most OMs. No single OM can be unequivocally recommended as the most appropriate instrument for assessing PPU in either clinical or research settings. Based on measurement property ratings and the overall quality of evidence, 19 OMs received Class-C recommendations, among which four OMs were considered the most promising (including the Problematic Pornography Use Scale, Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale [PPCS], PPCS-6, and Brief Pornography Screen). Overall, these promising Class-C OMs may tentatively serve as valid and reliable tools for assessing PPU in clinical and research contexts, thereby providing a valuable resource for improving PPU assessment and informing evidence-based practice. Nevertheless, further studies are warranted to comprehensively validate the measurement properties of existing OMs. In addition, the findings underscore the importance of theory-driven and methodologically rigorous validation studies, as well as stricter adherence to COSMIN standards, to enhance consistency and comparability across studies.

The number of cancer survivors is growing increasingly worldwide. The long-term negative consequences of the disease are now better known. Cancer may also foster positive outcomes. Some survivors consider life after cancer as the start of a new life and experience positive changes called post-traumatic growth (PTG) measured by a scale developed by Tedeschi and Calhoun. The purpose of this article was to explore actionable factors affecting PTG, particularly those in relation with health care management and those that reflected health behavior changes. This study included the 1,982 participants in the VICAN cohort who responded to the questionnaire on living conditions 2 and 5years after diagnosis. Factors associated with a moderate or high PTG (score ≥ 63) were identified using logistic regressions. Factors positively associated with moderate or high PTG were being satisfied with the time spent by health care team on information (OR:1.35 [1.08;1.70]), increased physical activity (OR:1.42 [1.04;1.95]) and healthier diet (OR:1.85 [1.44;2.36]) since diagnosis, and having benefited from psychological support at diagnosis (OR:1.53 [1.16;2.01]). High PTG is positively associated with health behavior and time spent on information. Our findings suggest that appropriate clinical and educational interventions can help foster growth after the experience of cancer. Even if we do not know what causes what, it is admitted that the interventions leading to an increase of physical activity, for example, are good from all points of view.

Ethical issues in pediatric pharmacogenomics.

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is a possible positive consequence of a traumatic event, such as cancer. Head and neck cancer (HNC) may be particularly traumatic, given its adverse effects on functional, psychological, and social wellbeing. We investigated the extent of PTG, factors associated with PTG, and associations between PTG and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) in HNC survivors. HNC survivors (ICD10 C00-C14, C32), identified from the population-based National Cancer Registry Ireland, completed a postal survey. PTG was assessed using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTG-I) and HRQoL with FACT-G and FACT-H&N. Associations between socio-economic characteristics, social support, and clinical variables and PTG were examined using multivariable linear regression. Total HRQoL scores were compared in those with none-low PTG vs moderate-high PTG. A total of 583 survivors participated (response rate=59%). The mean PTG score was 55.74 (95%CI 53.15-58.33); 60% had moderate-high PTG. Survivors scored highest in the PTG-I domain appreciation of life. In multivariable analysis, being female, being younger, having more social support, and having cancer-related financial stress were significantly associated with more PTG. HRQoL was significantly higher in those with moderate-high than no-little PTG (P<.01). A notable proportion of HNC survivors report PTG but growth is, on average, lower than reported for other cancers. Nonetheless, higher PTG appears related to better HRQoL. Further research would be valuable to understand the pathways by which HNC may lead to PTG and inform development of strategies to support and encourage PTG in this survivor population.

The contested discourse regarding the nature of posttraumatic growth (PTG) includes 2 main competitive claims. The first argues that PTG reflects authentic positive transformation while the second posits that PTG reflects illusory defenses that could be maladaptive in the long run. The present study assesses these competing claims by investigating secondary PTG in relation to the somatic domain. Specifically, this study investigates: (a) the association between PTG, and perceived health (PH), as measured by 3 indices of somatic complaints, self-rated health (SRH) and a number of health problems; (b) the association between PTG, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and PH over time; and (c) the mediating role of PTSS between PTG and PH, among wives of former prisoners of war (ex-POWs) and wives of control veterans. Assessments were conducted 30 (T1) and 38 (T2) years after the Yom Kippur War. Results showed that wives of ex-POWs endorsed higher PTSS, higher PTG and poorer PH, compared to control wives. Higher PTG was associated with higher PTSS and poorer PH. PTG at T1 predicted an increase in PTSS between T1 and T2, which in turn was correlated with poorer PH. PTSS at T2 as well as changes in PTSS from T1 to T2 mediated the association between T1 PTG and T2 PH measures. The present findings imply that PTG might have negative implications on PH through the amplification of PTSS, among secondary trauma victims. It seems that although spouses of trauma victims describe benefits resulting from vicarious trauma exposures, their body indicates differently. (PsycINFO Database Record

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) may favor the psychological adaptation to chronic illnesses. However, few studies investigated PTG in Parkinson's Disease (PD). This study aims to investigate PTG in patients with PD, by exploring disease-specific features and assessing its impact on distress, well-being, and quality of life. A mixed methodology with a convergent parallel design was used. 54 patients were classified according to their level of PTG (low PTG, medium PTG, and high PTG). PD patients with high PTG showed a more positive psychological adaptation and less distress when compared to patients with less PTG. Forty-nine patients were interviewed and their transcripts were analyzed using Thematic Analysis. The emerged themes confirmed the traditional dimensions of PTG model, but a specific theme connected to a new body awareness was identified. Patients with high PTG were more likely to report positive statements following PD diagnosis, particularly concerning spirituality and maintaining a good physical functioning. PTG presents peculiar characteristics in PD and it may favor a better psychological adjustment following the diagnosis.