Dimensions Of Posttraumatic Growth Research Articles

Posttraumatic Growth: The Role of Health and Financial Difficulties During a Pandemic.

Trauma can have a range of effects on individuals over time, including the potential for positive changes in favorable outcomes commonly referred to as posttraumatic growth. The posttraumatic growth literature has been criticized for various methodological limitations and has largely neglected the exploration of factors that may strengthen or weaken posttraumatic growth trajectories. The present study contributes to this literature by investigating trajectories of five dimensions of posttraumatic growth during the COVID-19 pandemic and the moderating effects of health and financial difficulties on these trajectories. Longitudinal data were collected monthly between July 2020 and December 2022 from a sample of employed adults in Germany, involving N = 1678 participants over 30 time points (Nobservations = 29,552). Results suggest that certain dimensions of posttraumatic growth showed significant increases (i.e., relationships) or decreases (i.e., spirituality and possibilities) over time and that trajectories of three dimensions (i.e., relationships, appreciation, and strength) demonstrated distinctive patterns of interaction with health and financial difficulties. Findings are discussed in the context of the pandemic as well as dynamic theories of personality and identity, with implications for advancing posttraumatic growth theory and research.

Post Traumatic Growth in Early Adults from Divorced Families

Individuals with divorced parents are at high risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, but traumatic events can help individuals to learn things and develop competencies that they did not have before, which is called Post Traumatic Growth (PTG). The purpose of this study was to obtain a description of PTG from individuals who experienced parental divorce. The approach used in this study was phenomenological qualitative. The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with six participants who experienced parental divorce as children or adolescents. Researchers used purposive sampling method in selecting participants. The results of the study concluded that all participants experienced changes in all dimensions of PTG after their parents divorced, namely changes in interpersonal relationships, changes in spiritual development, the emergence of appreciation for life, the emergence of new opportunities/priorities, and the emergence of self-strength after parental divorce

Chinese college students’ post-traumatic growth during the COVID-19: a grounded theory study

During the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, both high levels of post-traumatic stress and positive personal changes, a phenomenon known as post-traumatic growth (PTG), were experienced by some people. What remains unknown are the constructs and facilitators of PTG during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study uses a grounded theory methodology to elucidate the behavioral and cognitional dimensions of PTG in Chinese college students. Twenty-four individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with Chinese college students who had positive experiences during the epidemic. Transcripts were analyzed using initial and focused coding to identify themes that explained the PTG model. The coding results revealed that the Chinese college students’ PTG consisted of four core themes: reflections on the country and society, self-awareness changes, increased social behavior, and lifestyle modifications. Additionally, participants described external factors such as information input and patriotism, which were identified as influencing their PTG during the pandemic. Findings from this study extend prior theory and research by conceptualizing a novel theoretical model for PTG among college students during the pandemic and provide important implications for research and practice.

Posttraumatic growth in women after a childbirth experience: The influence of individual characteristics and intrusive and deliberate rumination.

This study targets women who had a self-defined traumatic childbirth experience to (a) explore the differences between sociodemographic-, obstetric-, and trauma-related variables in relation to the rumination style; (b) determine differences between intrusive and deliberate rumination in relation to posttraumatic growth (PTG) dimensions, and (c) test whether intrusive rumination is associated with deliberate rumination, which in turn is associated with PTG dimensions. A cross-sectional study design was employed using a web-based survey method for data collection. In total, 202 women who identified their childbirth experience as traumatic participated in this study. Intrusive rumination and deliberate rumination were positively associated with all dimensions of PTG in women following the traumatic childbirth event. Deliberate rumination fully explained the relationship between intrusive rumination and PTG aspects of relating to others, new opportunities, and personal strength, and partially explained the relationship between intrusive rumination and PTG aspects of spiritual changes and appreciation of life. The results suggest that deliberate rumination can contribute to explain the occurrence of PTG. These findings could help develop psychosocial interventions to maximize opportunities for deliberate rumination for women with traumatic childbirth experiences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Network Analysis of Posttraumatic Growth Dimensions: A Cross-Sectional Study in People Who Experienced the Death of a Loved One from COVID-19 in 16 Latin American Countries

The present study aimed to apply a network analysis model to provide an exploratory empirical conceptualization of dynamic networks of posttraumatic growth (PTG) symptoms in 7,434 people who experienced the death of a loved one from COVID-19 in 16 Latin American countries. The Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory: Short Form of Eight Items was used. A non-regularized network with partial correlation coefficients was estimated through the ggmModSelect algorithm. The network architecture was analyzed for each country through its local properties and global properties. The results indicated that the networks differed significantly between countries. The core dimensions in the networks were relating to others, personal strength, and life value and opportunities, which were more related dimensions that reinforce the emergence of PTG in all countries. The findings may be useful to motivate researchers and mental health professionals to consider the importance of the individual dimensions of PTG in groups of people who experienced the death of a loved one from COVID-19 in 16 Latin American countries, as well as their interrelationships.

Dimensions of Post-Traumatic Growth Resulting from Parental Divorce among Young Iranian Women

Parental divorce affects various behavioral, emotional, social, and academic outcomes, and children from divorced families are more likely to experience problems in their lives. This present study aimed to explore the dimensions of post-traumatic growth resulting from divorce parental among young Iranian women. A total of 20 young women living in Tehran, Iran, whose parents were divorced participated in this research. The data were collected by a semi-structured interview and analyzed by Marton’s proposed method. The findings of this phenomenography study revealed five outcome spaces of post-traumatic growth. Categories of description included post-traumatic growth in the behavioral dimension, academic-occupational dimension, spiritual dimension, ethnic relationships dimension, and meaning of life dimension. According to the findings, in Iranian society, culture, ethnicity, and religion play an important role in growth after divorce. In general, if they are mature and mentally prepared, they can cope with their parents’ divorce and grow in different domains.

Significance of Post-Traumatic Growth and Mental Health for Coping in Multiple Sclerosis Caregivers.

We investigated the influence of post-traumatic growth (PTG) and mental health (MH) on multiple sclerosis (MS) caregivers' uses of coping strategies and identified biopsychosocial predictors of proactive or reactive coping. The Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PGI-21), Brief COPE Questionnaire (COPE-28), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used to evaluate 209 caregivers. Higher PTG was related to greater use of emotional support, positive reframing, religion, active coping, instrumental support, planning, denial, self-distraction, self-blaming, and venting. Better MH was associated with greater use of acceptance, while behavioral disengagement and self-distraction were associated with poorer MH. The PTG dimensions relating to others and new possibilities, SF-12 dimensions of physical and emotional roles as well as partnership, not living with the patient, and significant others' social support were predictors of proactive coping. Reactive coping was positively predicted by the PTG dimension relating to others, depression, vitality, other than partner relation, and physical role, and negatively predicted by mental health level and emotional role. In summary, higher MH was associated with proactive coping strategies, whereas post-traumatic growth was related to the use of a wide range of proactive coping as well as reactive coping strategies.

From existential anxiety to post-traumatic growth: The stranded traveler during the pandemic outbreak

For many, the COVID-19 pandemic is an existential trauma. Existential traumas trigger people's ultimate concerns and shatter individuals' basic assumptions. Based on the perspective of existential positive psychology, this study explores the post-traumatic growth of travelers from Hubei, China, during the early outbreak period. Grounded theory is used to analyze the stranded experience of epicenter travelers during the sudden crisis. This study reveals the intertwined traumatic events that evoke existential anxiety in travelers, as well as five dimensions of post-traumatic growth. Moreover, a theoretical framework is presented, elaborating on the influence path of key factors such as social support, cognition, and coping strategies on post-traumatic growth. Finally, the finding shows a strong resonance between post-traumatic growth and transformative tourism experiences.

Post-Traumatic Growth after Cancer: A Thematic Analysis Study

Background: That a diagnosis of, and treatment to cancer brings along shock, distress and possible long-term negative life changes is very clear from human experience and research alike. But such an experience can also relate to positive life changes, as increasing research on the aftermath of serious illness, such as cancer diagnosis consistently shows. Observations of positive outcomes linked to quality of life are increasingly being found in cancer studies. These results seem to converge with post-traumatic growth (PTG) which emphasize positive life changes as resulting from considerable life-changing events that are borne from crises or trauma.
 Objectives: Aims to this study were to 1) investigate the holistic impact and ramifications of PTG on the recovery from serious illness such as cancer; 2) clarify the relationship, if any, of PTG with mental health outcomes; and 3) how is PTG strengthened or otherwise, when one is faced by such life-changing event.
 Methods: Using a Thematic Analysis design, we investigated how the diagnosis of, and treatment to cancer impacted the patients and survivors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people who had received treatment for breast (n=3), MSS (n=1), ovarian (n=2), bone (n=2), H. Lymphoma (n=1), Liver (n=1). Using descriptive mapping, we clarified whether this study results are consistent with Tedeschi and Calhoun’s PTG framework.
 Results: Findings charted on the key factors of PTG.
 Conclusions: Cancer results in varied consequences and in negative and positive adjustments. Further development of findings which charted on major PTG dimensions is warranted.

Too many lemons to make lemonade? Disentangling mental health during the third wave of COVID-19 infections in Spain

The study aimed to analyze the longitudinal change in mental health during the third wave of COVID-19 infections in Spain. Negative (e.g., emotional distress) and positive (e.g., positive functioning variables) outcomes were analyzed. Protective factors (e.g., resilience) as predictors of psychological adjustment (i.e., positive mental health, openness to the future, and low burden due to COVID-19) after ten months of the pandemic were also examined. The sample consisted of 164 participants, and self-reported questionnaires were administered at the beginning of the lockdown (March 2020), at the end of the lockdown (June 2020), and during the third wave (January 2021). Linear mixed models showed that individuals’ emotional distress increased, and positive functioning variables (i.e., meaning in life, gratitude, resilience, and life satisfaction) decreased over time, but an increase was observed in some dimensions of posttraumatic growth. Regression analyses showed that resilience scores at all three data collection time points were significant predictors of positive mental health, openness to the future, and burden during the third wave. Mediation analyses showed that positive mental health and openness to the future were mediators of the effect of resilience on burden. The prolonged situation of the COVID-19 crisis had an important impact on positive and negative mental health. However, resilience may help to build up resources that can act as a buffer against adverse psychological effects.

Growth-Related Responses to the Threat of COVID-19 among Adolescents.

The main objective of our study was to determine whether the experience of the types of pandemic threats included in the study, could activate development responses among adolescents and what the role of the level of stress experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic is in the process of post-traumatic PTG growth. We also made an attempt to investigate whether personality traits and gender were predictors of PTG growth in adolescents. Therefore, the theoretical bases for the interpretation of the obtained results are models of post-traumatic growth (PTG), mainly by Calhoun and Tedeschi. The research was conducted in March 2020. The study subjects were 405 adolescents aged 14 to 20 years, with an average age of 17 years, of whom 59% were females and 41% were males. The following methods were used in the study: IPIP-BFM-20 to estimate five personality traits, PSS- to diagnose perceived stress, and an in-house questionnaire of pandemic threats experienced by adolescents (KŻP). The results showed that the various types of ‘pandemic’ threats (threats to life, family, and lifestyle) are positive predictors of growth-related changes; additionally, such factors as personality traits (here: extroversion), stress level, and gender had a positive mediating effect on growth-related changes. It was also possible to show that out of the four dimensions of post-traumatic growth, three could be activated under pandemic conditions. These were: changes in relationships with others, greater appreciation of everyday life, and spiritual changes. Changes in self-perception—one of the dimensions of post-traumatic growth, were not activated due to experiencing three types of pandemic threats.

Predicting Posttraumatic Growth in COVID-19 Patients Using Electroencephalogram Signals

Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the quantitative pattern of brain waves with post-traumatic growth dimensions in patients admitted due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Post-traumatic growth is the mental experience of positive psychological changes caused by the individual as a result of coping with challenging situations.
 Materials and Methods: In this study, 66 individuals with COVID-19 who were admitted to Baharloo Hospital in Tehran as a stressful event were selected by convenience sampling and completed a post-traumatic growth inventory (PTGI) and their brain waves in rest were recorded.
 Results: The results showed that brain components are a good predictor of post-traumatic growth dimensions. Alpha-parietal, F3-Sensorimotor Rhythm (F3-SMR) and alpha asymmetry predicted new possibilities component, alpha-F3 and alpha asymmetry predicted relating to others component, F4-SMR predicted spiritual change component and alpha asymmetry significantly predicted the total post-traumatic growth score. Also, Quantitative Electroencephalogram (QEEG) components did not significantly predict the appreciation of life and personal strength component.
 Conclusion: According to the results, it can be said that more objective instruments such as Electroencephalogram )EEG( have good predictive power in complex psychological and multidimensional cases such as post-traumatic growth. The results of this study confirm the hypothesis that post-traumatic growth may reflect a process of active struggle to achieve new goals and perspectives. Accordingly, especially the more guided dimensions of post-traumatic growth (e.g., the new possibilities dimension) may be associated with the asymmetry of the frontal lobe of the brain. In contrast, the dimensions of appreciation of life and personal strength were not predicted by the brain component; these two components were slightly more abstract than the others and may lead to more / less neural network activity in Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) that is more observable.

Latent Profiles of Posttraumatic Growth: 17 years After the Bam Earthquake in Iran.

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is a positive psychological change after challenging life events. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of positive and long-term psychological changes in people who experienced the Bam earthquake. A total of 916 adolescents were surveyed 17 years after the earthquake. Self-report questionnaires were administered to participants. A latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to extract the subgroups of adults. The LPA identified 5 meaningfully profiles that were characterized based on the pattern of PTG dimensions. The common profile was profile, which perceived very low "relating to others" dimension and medium for other PTG dimensions. Also, the results showed significant differences among gender and age and nonsignificant differences in marital status and education level among the profiles of PTG. For stressful situations, the different dimensions of PTG change indirectly in every person. In Bam, some patterns are seen according to PTG after 17 y. Among these dimensions, the part of "relating to others", has the greatest change. Another conclusion is that according to a relatively high profile for 5 clusters, it seems the impact of 17 y should be less on PTG as the number of extractive patterns is approximately high for the case.

Long-Term Posttraumatic Growth in Victims of Terrorism in Spain.

BackgroundScientific literature on posttraumatic growth (PTG) after terrorist attacks has primarily focused on persons who had not been directly exposed to terrorist attacks or persons who had been directly exposed to them, but who were assessed few months or years after the attacks.MethodsWe examined long-term PTG in 210 adults directly exposed to terrorist attacks in Spain a mean of 29.6 years after the attacks (range: 2–47 years). The participants had been injured by a terrorist attack (38.6%) or were first-degree relatives of people who had been killed or injured by a terrorist attack (41.4% and 20%, respectively). They completed diagnostic measures of emotional disorders and measures of PTSD and depression symptomatology, optimism, and PTG.ResultsMultiple regression analyses revealed gender differences (women reported higher levels of PTG than did men) and a positive linear relationship between PTG and cumulative trauma after the terrorist attack. Some PTG dimensions were significantly associated with PTSD symptomatology, these associations being linear, not curvilinear. However, PTG was not associated with depression symptomatology, diagnosis of emotional disorders, age, elapsed time since the attack, or optimism. In comparison with survivors assessed 18 years after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, Spanish victims of terrorism showed higher levels of appreciation of life, but lower levels of relating to others and spiritual change.ConclusionThe findings underscore the influence of gender on PTG and provide support to the hypothesis that some emotional distress may be a necessary condition of PTG. Future studies on PTG after terrorist attacks should take into consideration the characteristics of the terrorist attack itself and the contexts of violence and threat in which it occurred. The political, social, and cultural characteristics of the community affected by it and the profile and characteristics of other traumatic events suffered after the attack should also be taken into account in further research.

Exploring Posttraumatic Growth in Sierra Leone Using Mixed Methods

The Sierra Leonean population has faced severe collective traumata (e.g., civil war, Ebola). Although adversities have a devastating impact on people’s lives, there is strong evidence that the struggle with stressful life events can lead to positive changes, which is called posttraumatic growth (PTG). Across many cultures individuals experience PTG. However, the nature of PTG might be influenced by cultural factors. This study aimed to explore PTG in a Sierra Leonean sample using a convergent parallel mixed methods design. The quantitative study investigated the factor structure of the expanded Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-X). The qualitative study identified emergent PTG themes. In sum, 360 adults reported on their worst experience and completed the PTGI-X; Additionally, 20 participants took part in in-depth interviews. The original factor structure of the PTGI-X did not apply to this Sierra Leonean sample. A one-factor model including 17 items was supported by confirmatory factor analysis. The qualitative findings revealed PTG dimensions that corresponded to the original ones, which were summarised into the domain “individual growth” (tranquillity and trust, achievement motivation, existential apperception, emphasis on values of life, benevolence). A new domain “collective growth”, which reflected societal changes, was found as well. That means, in addition to a personal positive transformation, a social transformation was revealed. The findings indicated that an individualistic measurement such as the PTGI-X falls short to examine growth dimensions in non-Western cultures. A broader definition of PTG might foster the integration of different cultural and collective elements that emerge in response to stressful events.

Post-traumatic Growth Dimensions Differently Mediate the Relationship Between National Identity and Interpersonal Trust Among Young Adults: A Study on COVID-19 Crisis in Italy.

BackgroundIn Italy, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a collective trauma. Post-traumatic growth (PTG) has been defined as the subjective experience of positive psychological changes as a result of a traumatic event. PTG can involve changes in five psychological main dimensions: relating to others, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual change, and appreciation of life. In the context of national emergencies, those PTG dimensions encompassing changes at the social level (e.g., relating to others) can play a role in coping strategies that involve a renewed sense of self and one’s social identities, including national identities, and in turn, foster a stronger sense of trust and connection to others.AimTo investigate how each of the five PTG dimensions mediates the association between the salience of national identity and interpersonal trust in a sample of Italian young adults. Trust in national and European institutions were expected to positively predict the strength of the Italian national identity which in turn was expected to be positively associated with interpersonal trust, and the PTG relating to others dimension to mediate this association.MethodThis study involves the secondary analysis of data from a representative sample of 2,000 Italian young adults (age range 18–34 years). Participants completed a web survey during the peak of the COVID-19 crisis in Italy with measures of trust in EU and national institutions, national identity, interpersonal trust, and the PTG Inventory. Structural equation modeling procedures were employed for key hypotheses tests.ResultsTrust in national institutions positively predicted national identity, which in turn was positively associated with interpersonal trust. Evidence of a full mediation effect of the PTG relating to others dimension on the association between national identity and interpersonal trust was found.DiscussionFindings contribute to clarify the psychological responses to collective traumas. In the context of Italy’s COVID-19 crisis, trust in national institutions reinforced Italian national identity, which was in turn associated with greater interpersonal trust, but only when psychological responses to the trauma involved changes in how individuals perceived and related to others, and not merely a focus on the self. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Did we learn something positive out of the COVID-19 pandemic? Post-traumatic growth and mental health in the general population.

When facing a traumatic event, some people may experience positive changes, defined as posttraumatic growth (PTG). Understanding the possible positive consequences of the pandemic on the individual level is crucial for the development of supportive psychosocial interventions. The present paper aims to: 1) evaluate the levels of PTG in the general population; 2) to identify predictors of each dimension of post-traumatic growth. The majority of the sample (67%, N=13,889) did not report any significant improvement in any domain of PTG. Participants reported the highest levels of growth in the dimension of "appreciation of life" (2.3±1.4), while the lowest level was found in the "spiritual change" (1.2±1.2). Female participants reported a slightly higher level of PTG in areas of personal strength (p<.002) and appreciation for life (p<.007) compared to male participants, while no significant association was found with age. At the multivariate regression models, weighted for the propensity score, only the initial week of lockdown (between 9-15 April) had a negative impact on the dimension of "relating to others" (B=-.107, 95% CI=-.181 to -.032, p<.005), while over time no other effects were found. The duration of exposure to lockdown measures did not influence the other dimensions of PTG. The assessment of the levels of PTG is of great importance for the development of ad hoc supportive psychosocial interventions. From a public health perspective, the identification of protective factors is crucial for developing ad-hoc tailored interventions and for preventing the development of full-blown mental disorders in large scale.

Changes in geographic clustering of post-traumatic stress disorder and post-traumatic growth seven years after an earthquake in Cauquenes, Chile

Recent findings indicate that both disruptive Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and healthy Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) responses have some spatial distribution depending on where they are measured and the different degrees of exposure that people may have to a critical event (e.g., earthquake). Less is known about how these responses change as a function of space and time after these events. The objective of this study was to enter deeper into this relationship analysing how PTSD and PTG responses vary in their spatial distribution 6 and 7 years after an earthquake (such as the one that occurred on 27 February, 2010 in Cauquenes City, Chile). Spatial analyses based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were performed to detect global and local geographic clustering. Investigating 171 (2016) and 106 (2017) randomly selected adults from Cauquenes, we demonstrated that 7 years after the event only 4 variables were spatially clustered, i.e. personal mental strength, interpersonal relations, new possibilities and appreciation of life), all of them PTG dimensions; This result contrasted with the situation the previous year (2016), when 7 variables were clustered (total PTG, spiritual change, new possibilities, appreciation of life, PTSD symptoms, PTSD reactions and PTSD in total). The spatial identifications found could facilitate the comparison of mental health conditions in populations and the impact of recovery programmes in communities exposed to disasters.

Positive Orientation and Posttraumatic Growth in Mothers of Children with Cystic Fibrosis - Mediating Role of Coping Strategies

PurposeAnalyzing the relationship between positive orientation and post-traumatic growth (PTG) in mothers of children with cystic fibrosis including the mediating role of coping strategies. Design and methodsThis is a cross-sectional study using questionnaires. The sample was 144 mothers of children with cystic fibrosis (average age 37.25 years, SD = 6.50) recruited in the CF Foundation MATIO in Poland. The main measures included the Post–traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), The Positivity Scale, and the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE). Mediation was tested with Preacher and Hayes' model 4, including coping strategies as a mediator on the relationship between positive orientation and PTG. ResultsMost examined mothers (105–72.91%) revealed high or average levels of posttraumatic growth. Positive orientation was positively (but weakly) correlated with PTGI total and all its dimensions. Additionally, coping strategies, especially focus on problem and seeking emotional support, were mediators between positive orientation and all dimensions of PTG. Full mediation was observed for PTG dimension: changes in relations to others. ConclusionPositive orientation and coping strategies are important for explaining post-traumatic growth in mothers of children with cystic fibrosis. Practice implicationsTherapeutic interventions and support programs for mothers of children with cystic fibrosis may increase mothers' awareness of experiencing PTG. Learning effective and flexible stress coping strategies can foster positive changes.

Coming Out as LGBTQ +: The Role Strength-Based Parenting on Posttraumatic Stress and Posttraumatic Growth

For LGBTQ + individuals, coming out can be an experience of marked adversity. Indeed, research has shown that the experience can trigger psychological ill-health (e.g. depression and anxiety) as well as posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) such as sleep disturbance, somatic symptoms and cognitive distress. While studies have investigated the pain associated with coming out, much less is known about the potential for this life event to lead to growth. The aim of the current study, therefore, was to explore levels of posttraumatic stress and the presence of posttraumatic growth (PTG) in LGBTQ + adults who had come out. Additionally, this study examined that the role that strength-based parenting plays in levels of PTSS and PTG after coming out. The interaction between SBP, PTSS and PTG was examined in a Peruvian sample of LGBTQ + individuals who had disclosed their sexual and/or gender minority identity to parents (N = 208). The results showed, firstly, that individuals experienced both PTSS and PTG; secondly, that SBP plays a direct protective role (reducing PTSS) and a promoting role (increasing PTG); and thirdly, that SBP indirectly influenced PTG through its inverse relationship with PTSS. Bisexual individuals experience less growth than other LGBTQ + individuals in the all PTG dimensions, illustrating an additional difficulty for this minority group. The results are discussed in light of leading researchers, clinicians and LGBTQ + individuals towards growth-based outcomes following identity disclosure.