‘We Remember Them’: A Mixed Methods Study of Posttraumatic Growth, Collective Efficacy, and Agency among Survivors of Mass Violence in Isla Vista, California

Post-traumatic growth and its predictors among Syrian refugees in Istanbul: A mental health population survey

Little is known about the development of posttraumatic growth among parents of children with serious advanced disease. The purpose of this study is to describe parental posttraumatic growth 100 days after pediatric stem cell transplant. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study of 24 parents, approximately 100 days after their children received stem cell transplant. Participants reported environmental, personal, and disease characteristics and completed measures of distress, coping, rumination, and posttraumatic growth. Evidence of parental posttraumatic growth was described in each of 5 dimensions (relating to others, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual change, and appreciation of life). Posttraumatic growth was positively associated with parental distress, disengagement coping, and rumination measures (r = 0.44-0.47, P < .05). Appreciation of life demonstrated the strongest associations with distress and rumination (r = 0.53-0.61, P < .01). Curvilinear relationships were observed for the association of distress, disengagement coping, and involuntary engagement with posttraumatic growth (P < .05). Study results highlight opportunities for palliative care nurses and clinicians to facilitate opportunities to support parent posttraumatic growth during treatment for children's advanced disease.

Coping and rumination as predictors of posttraumatic growth and depreciation

Background. Although breast cancer (BC) may have negative psychological sequelae, it may also be experienced as an existential challenge, which can derive personal growth. Only one study has been conducted, however, on whether women with BC experience more post-traumatic growth (PTG) than BC-free women. We examined PTG in women with and without BC and whether the characteristics and treatment of BC were associated with PTG. Material and methods. We used data from the questionnaire administered in the Diet, Cancer and Health cohort and included 774 women with BC and 666 randomly sampled BC-free women aged 63–81 years. PTG was measured with the PTG inventory, for which the women identified their own traumatic or life-changing event. Linear regression was used to compare PTG in women with and without BC and to examine the association between BC characteristics and treatment and PTG. Results. Although women with BC experienced significantly more PTG in the domains ‘appreciation of life’ and ‘relating to others’ compared to BC-free women, no statistically significant difference in overall PTG was observed according to BC status, indicating that PTG is not limited to women with BC. Tumor size, number of positive lymph nodes, having undergone mastectomy and having received endocrine treatment were positively associated with overall PTG and/or specific PTG domains, implying that the severity of disease plays a role in the development of PTG. Conclusion. In order to avoid unnecessary pressure for personal growth, healthcare professionals should not expect that women with BC experience more PTG than BC-free women.

Purpose: The development of post-traumatic growth was studied longitudinally within 14 months poststroke. The predictions of two models of post-traumatic growth were examined.Method: Forty-three stroke survivors were investigated at two time points (i.e., time 1 and time 2), six months apart. Each completed the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory, Rumination Scale, Impact of Events Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Social Support, the Barthel Index and the COPE scale.Results: Post-traumatic growth was evident four to five months after stroke, increasing significantly over the next six months at which point levels resembled those reported in cross-sectional stroke studies. Active and denial coping and rumination at time 1 were positively associated, and age was negatively associated, with post-traumatic growth at time 2, but acceptance coping was not associated. Neither active coping nor rumination mediated the effect of social support on post-traumatic growth as predicted. As predicted, rumination mediated the relationship between post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth. Exploratory stepwise regression demonstrated rumination and active coping at time 1 accounted for 45% of variance in post-traumatic growth at time 2.Conclusions: Post-traumatic growth can develop soon after stroke. Deliberate rumination is a key factor in post-traumatic growth. Both active coping and denial coping were associated with post-traumatic growth demonstrating the psychological complexity of poststroke adjustment.Implications for rehabilitationTherapists can expect stroke survivors to show post-traumatic growth in the first months after stroke.Therapists should look to promote post-traumatic growth and positive adjustment through working with survivors to increase active coping (attempts to deal effectively with the impact of stroke) and rumination (cognitive processing of the impact of the stroke).Since denial coping was also associated with posttraumatic growth, stroke survivors who maintain overly optimistic views about the severity and impact of their stroke are likely to benefit from therapists continually facilitating capacity for growth and well-being.

BackgroundConflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) was committed on a large scale against women across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) during the 1990’s war, and research has shown both negative and positive psychosocial outcomes following such acts of interpersonal violence. We aim to determine the capacity for posttraumatic growth (PTG) among a population of women who experienced CRSV, and to what extent it is impacted by factors such as coping and optimism.MethodsThis study sought to examine the relationship between PTG (posttraumatic growth inventory), symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Harvard Trauma Questionnaire) and dispositional factors such as coping (COPE) and optimism (Life-Orientation Test-Revised) in a sample of n = 104 women. We first conducted bivariate correlations and then hierarchical linear regression analyses, and hypothesized that approach coping strategies and optimism will act to enhance PTG.ResultsFindings showed that the average total score for PTG in this study was 58.94 (SD = 23.01), and current PTSD symptomatology above a threshold of > 2.5 was detected in 92.3% (n = 96) participants (mean score 3.18, SD = .45). Bivariate correlations showed that higher levels of PTG were associated with greater optimism, greater approach coping strategies positive reinterpretation and planning, and lower avoidance strategies behavioural disengagement and substance use. When entered into a regression model, only positive reinterpretation and behavioural disengagement remained, the R-square of the total set of predictors was 0.16, thus explaining 16% of PTG total score.ConclusionTwo types of coping (namely capacity of both greater positive reinterpretation and lower behavioural disengagement) most strongly predicted growth after trauma in this sample of CRSV survivors from BiH. These dimensions of coping confirm the role of coping strategies in the development of PTG. Further research would be useful in corroborating these findings in other post-conflict settings, and delving further into the possibility of a dual mechanism of growth and distress after CRSV.

The aim of this study was to assess whether cochlear implant (CI) users who had been postlingually deaf developed a more positive outlook on life—the so-called posttraumatic growth (PTG)—as a result of their disability and to examine how PTG related to their stress-coping strategies and personal circumstances. The study group consisted of 119 postlingually deaf CI users. The participants were asked to anonymously fill in several questionnaires: the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (Brief COPE), and a form asking for personal details and factors related to their deafness and CI use. The PTG of postlingually deaf CI users was similar to that found in people with other severe health problems. The time that had elapsed since the hearing was lost and the time from receiving a CI were positively correlated with PTG. The level of PTG was correlated with the particular coping strategies used and differed between men and women. We found that the development of PTG could emerge from both approach-oriented coping strategies (e.g., active coping and planning) and avoidance-oriented coping strategies (e.g., denial, self-distraction, and self-blame). Paradoxically, the avoidance strategies could play a positive role in the development of PTG. This reinforces the idea, previously raised in the PTG literature, that such strategies exert a defensive and protective function—an “illusory” side of PTG—which operates together with the positive constructive side, and both help develop the sense of well-being of a person.

(1) Background: Psychosomatic discomfort is prevalent among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Post-traumatic growth (PTG) has been a protective factor in earlier research. However, little is known regarding PTG among AYAs with IBD. This study investigates the generation of PTG in adolescents and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and finds positive coping skills employed in clinical nursing practice. (2) Methods: In 2021, 32 individuals were interviewed utilizing a semi-structured interview guide. This study used qualitative content analysis. (3) Results: The interviews revealed five themes: spiritual change, internalized supportiveness, cognitive re-shaping, externalized behaviors, and future-oriented thinking. (4) Conclusions: The research revealed the presence of PTG in AYAs with IBD. To give tailored care to patients, medical professionals must monitor the state of their PTG development in a planned and focused manner.

This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of post-traumatic growth (PTG) among adolescents having mothers diagnosed with breast cancer and the relationship between PTG and cancer-related communication with breast cancer survivors. A cross-sectional study was conducted using anonymous self-report questionnaires with breast cancer survivors and adolescent children. PTG in adolescents was measured using the Japanese version of the revised PTG Inventory for Children (PTGI-C-R-J). Furthermore, hierarchical multiple regression analysis was implemented. To evaluate the impact of cancer-related communication on each subscale, the total score of cancer-related communication was switched with other subscales individually within the constructed model. A total of 97 breast cancer survivors and their adolescent children were included. The mean scores of the total PTGI-C-R-J and subscale scores for "personal strength," "new possibilities," "relating to others," "appreciation of life," and "spiritual change" were 9.0, 1.7, 1.8, 2.3, 2.4, and 0.9, respectively. The connection between PTG and cancer-related communication was partially clarified. The PTGI-C-R-J score was higher when adolescents shared more information regarding breast cancer with their mothers and lower when adolescents expressed more negative feelings toward their mothers. Communication regarding relationships with mothers was not correlated with PTG. Of all PTG domains, "relating to others" and "appreciation of life" were comparatively higher in adolescents. Health professionals should support breast cancer survivors to ensure that they convey appropriate information regarding their treatment plans and side effects to their adolescent children. Health professionals should help adolescent children express their negative feelings calmly and clearly.

Little research has examined trauma exposure and mental health outcomes among gang-involved individuals, even though research has demonstrated a cumulative disadvantage in terms of violent victimization among this population. This study investigated lifetime trauma exposure, frequency of community violence exposure, symptoms of posttraumatic stress and depression, and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among 32 former gang members in the United States. Participants (Mage = 44.4 years, 87.5% male; 56.3% Hispanic or Latinx, 31.3% African American) completed questionnaires online assessing these constructs before completing a semi-structured interview (n = 28) about personal mental health consequences of trauma/violence exposure. Results revealed exposure to high levels of discrete trauma (M = 10.2/24) and frequent community violence (M = "five to six" events), minimal posttraumatic stress (M = 14.5/80) and depression (M = 4.11/27), and high levels of PTG (M = 40.69/50). Trauma was associated with greater posttraumatic stress and depression, whereas community violence was associated with greater PTG. Thematic analysis of narratives showed all participants described profound experiences of growth, including new possibilities in life (82.1%), enhanced relationships with others (71.4%), greater appreciation of life (60.7%), increased personal strength (46.4%), and spiritual change (46.4%). Trauma-informed and trauma-focused therapy may be an ongoing need in this population. However, the possibility of PTG suggests targeted areas for prevention and intervention among at-risk and gang-involved individuals. Further research is needed to examine positive changes in response to a changing perspective and new life narrative among gang-involved individuals.

It has been suggested that while some individuals undergo growth following traumatic experiences, others do not. This study investigates the correlation between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the development of posttraumatic growth (PTG) among Syrian refugees. Participants were asked to complete the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and sociodemographic questions. A total of 356 participants (77.5% females with mean age 24.3 ± 7.3 years) filled out the questionnaires. The results of logistic regression demonstrated that there is a strong correlation between PTSD and PTG. Individuals who suffer from PTSD are more likely to experience and benefit from PTG (OR = 29.1; 95% CI [3.9, 215.8]). It is essential that communities and organizations recognize these problems, work to support PTG, and offer comprehensive mental health care to those affected by war and the stresses that accompany it. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Purpose Research shows the potential for post-traumatic growth (PTG) following spinal cord injury (SCI). Growing evidence demonstrates the role of social processes in PTG development. However, the mechanisms through which social processes might influence PTG are not well established. The review aimed to synthesise current research to provide insights into social processes involved in PTG development following SCI. Methods Searches were conducted using the following databases: PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Scopus, Citation Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Nine studies were included. Studies were quality assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist. Data synthesis utilised a meta-ethnographic approach. Results Four themes were generated: Sense of Self and Identity; Close Relationships as Enablers of Growth; Connecting with the Peer Community; and Reintegrating into Society. Identity reconstruction was found to be a central pathway in PTG. Close relationships and peers played a multi-faceted role in enabling identity reconstruction and promoting PTG processes. Conclusions The review examines PTG development following SCI with a focus on social processes. Identity reconstruction, within the context of the individual’s social environment, appeared to be central to PTG. Social participation and integration opportunities are recommended as important considerations for rehabilitation discharge planning.

ABSTRACTFew studies have distinguished and compared the relationships and pathways between peer acceptance, peer rejection, friendship quality, self‐concept, and victimization, as well as their interactions with classroom characteristics. This study aimed to address this gap by examining these relationships over 1 year, focusing on the roles of collective efficacy and self‐concept at both the classroom and individual levels. A sample of 1053 elementary school students in grades 4–6 across 36 classes completed questionnaires, and a multilevel moderated mediation model was constructed. After controlling for gender and grade, the study found: (1) The association between friendship quality and victimization was the strongest, followed by peer acceptance and peer rejection, with no significant difference between the latter two. (2) Peer acceptance was related to victimization entirely through self‐concept, while peer rejection was directly related to victimization. Friendship quality was primarily related to victimization directly rather than through self‐concept. (3) Collective efficacy was negatively related to victimization and moderated the relationships between peer rejection, friendship quality, and victimization. Higher collective efficacy reduced the association between peer rejection and victimization but diminished the protective effect of friendship quality on victimization. This study not only clarified the specific roles and pathways of peer acceptance, peer rejection, and friendship quality in relation to victimization but also highlighted the protective role of peer interactions at the classroom level, enhancing our understanding of victimization dynamics.

ABSTRACTRecent scholarship in the person-centered experiential (PCE) approach has theorized how organismic valuing might be an important process factor in the development of posttraumatic growth. In a test of this prediction we investigated the association between Gendlin’s focusing and posttraumatic growth in 87 participants. All completed measures of focusing attitudes, posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth. The results showed that higher scores on focusing attitudes were significantly associated with lower scores on posttraumatic stress (r = −.39, p < .001), and higher scores on posttraumatic growth (lowest r = .32, p < .001), and that the associations with posttraumatic growth remained even with scores on posttraumatic stress partialled out (lowest r = .33, p < .001). Implications of these findings are discussed for therapeutic work with trauma survivors. Specifically, the results provide support that the use of Gendlin’s focusing and/or focusing evocative language may be effective in supporting those who suffer from severe and chronic trauma-related problems. These results provide sufficient support to warrant further clinical research using more sophisticated experimental approaches to test whether therapeutic work using focusing is able to promote posttraumatic growth.

Objective To investigate the current status of posttraumatic growth among digestive system cancer patient′ families, and explore correlation of posttraumatic growth with social support, coping style in digestive system cancer patient′s families. Methods The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Perceived Social Support Scale and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire were used to survey the 280 digestive system cancer patient′s families. Results The mean posttraumatic growth total score in families of the patients with digestive system cancer was (46.03±15.83) points. The highest score was found for appreciation of life, the lowest was spiritual change. Meanwhile, posttraumatic growth was significantly correlated with perceived social support. The correlation coefficient was 0.730 (P < 0.01). In the coping style, there was a positive correlation between positive coping style and post-traumatic growth. The correlation coefficient was 0.644, (P < 0.01). While except personal relationship and mental change dimensions, there was a negative correlation between the post-traumatic growth with the negative coping style. The correlation coefficient was -0.155 (P < 0.05). Conclusions Family of patients with digestive system cancer also experience posttraumatic growth when their loved ones are diagnosed with cancer, but the posttraumatic growth was at the lower level. Social support and positive coping are the positive factors of post traumatic growth, and negative coping is the negative influencing factor. Key words: Neoplasms; Posttraumatic growth; Families; Social support; Coping style