Greater Appreciation Of Life Research Articles

The Break-up Experience of Romantic Relationship and Post-traumatic Growth Among Vicenarian Adults

This paper explains the breakup experiences of romantic relationships, coping strategies, and post-traumatic growth (PTG) among vicenarian adults. It employed a qualitative-based research design using a phenomenological method. Snowball and purposive sampling methods were used to select seven participants with a background of romantic relationship breakup experience within two years. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect participant data, and data were analyzed using a thematic analysis procedure. This study found that romantic relationships included understanding of love, utmost happiness in love, and need in love. In contrast, breakups indicated decision-making, emotional impact, and self-blame. Besides, the result also reported that the coping methods involved emotional engagement and acceptance state (duration taken to overcome the emotions). After a romantic relationship breakup, self-growth was found more in personal strength, close relationships, new possibilities, spiritual development, and greater appreciation of life as PTG implications. The findings concluded that breakup-experienced participants coped through the grief process and enhanced their self-growth. This study helped to create awareness among society to view their grief as a growth-oriented process.

Beyond the denial of death: death meditation increases a sense of connectedness and appreciation of life.

The pervasive denial of death in modern society has created an unbalanced relationship with death that gets in the way of living a full life. To address this problem, the Lancet Commission on the Value of Death recently proposed principles of a healthier scenario for the future. In this 'realistic utopia', death is recognized as having value, and conversations about death and dying have become common. The present research examined if art could help to decrease death denial and increase life appreciation. An art installation invited visitors to confront thoughts of their own death in a guided meditation by visualizing the decay of their own dead body. Visitors' responses were compared to those of a standard death reflection group and a neutral control group (N=229) at two time points. Feelings of being moved, connectedness to a higher power, and life appreciation were assessed immediately (T1); death reflection and life appreciation were assessed two weeks later (T2) (N=105). At T1, the art installation induced higher levels of being moved and connectedness to a higher power than the two control groups. At T2, the art installation induced more lingering reflection than the two control groups. Lingering reflection, in turn, increased appreciation of life. We show that art can be harnessed to promote a more balanced relationship with death, and greater appreciation of life. The art installation provided individuals with concrete, and more encompassing simulations of what death could be like. By placing death in this bigger perspective, the art installation encouraged conscious death reflection. Such a connected perspective is often lacking, but direly needed, in healthcare and in larger society.

The post-traumatic growth approach to psychological trauma.

The post-traumatic growth approach to psychological trauma.

Examining Coping and Resilience in People with Acquired Brain Injury During the Pandemic

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To understand the relationship between use of coping skills and resilience in adults with an acquired brain injury (ABI) during the beginning of the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. <h3>Design</h3> Survey data was collected via online platform, Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap). <h3>Setting</h3> The general community. <h3>Participants</h3> Participants as part of a convenience sample included self-identified adults with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or stroke, 18 years or older (n = 99). Exclusion criteria were other neurological diagnoses or serious mental illnesses. <h3>Interventions</h3> Not applicable. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> The outcome measures were the following: COVID-19 Experiences subsection of the COVID-19: Impact of the Pandemic and Health Related Quality of Life in Cancer Patients and Survivors Scale (Cov-PHRQoL) and the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. <h3>Results</h3> There was a significant group difference for race, (p = .04), with the Non-Coping Group having more people of minority status. The Coping Group reported a greater appreciation of family and friends (p= .001), greater appreciation for life (p= .001), more grateful for each day (p= .001), accepting of what they can't change (p= .001), and finding new ways to connect family and friends (p= .001). Compared to the Non-Coping Group, the Coping Group reported significantly greater resiliency and growth from a difficult situation (p = 0.006). <h3>Conclusions</h3> The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to examine the relationship between coping skills and resilience in people with ABI when faced with a novel stressor. People who utilized coping skills demonstrated positive outcomes in the form of perceived benefits and greater appreciation for who they had in their life. Furthermore, the Coping group was able to reframe difficult situations to find psychological growth. More research must be done to determine the relationship between coping skills and resilience in people with ABI, as well as what aspects of coping skills and resilience are most crucial to producing positive outcomes for people with ABI when faced with novel stressors. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> None.

Sub-groups (profiles) of individuals experiencing post-traumatic growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ObjectiveSome people experience post-traumatic growth (PTG), entailing positive changes such as a greater appreciation of life following traumatic events. We examined PTG in the context of the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, notably working from home and social distancing. We aimed to assess whether distinct sub-groups (profiles) of individuals experiencing PTG could be identified by how they appraised and coped with the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodFor this cross-sectional study, we used convenience sampling. In total, 951 participants from the general population completed an online questionnaire with items focusing on primary and secondary appraisal, positive reappraisal, rumination, and coping flexibility. For the latent profile analysis, we selected a sample of 392 individuals who had experienced moderate degrees of pandemic-related PTG, reporting at least two of the 10 positive changes in the PTG Inventory-Short Form.ResultsWe identified two distinct profiles among people experiencing PTG. The first was characterised by low levels of primary appraisal and stressfulness and higher levels of secondary appraisal (e.g., resilient group), increased coping flexibility and greater use of positive reappraisal. The second was characterised by higher levels of stressfulness and primary appraisal (e.g., stressed group) and greater use of rumination.ConclusionThe two sub-groups evidently appraised and coped with the COVID-19 pandemic differently. Therefore, future research should account for these different profiles of people experiencing PTG.

Back to life: Is it possible to be myself again? A qualitative study with persons initially hospitalised due to COVID-19.

ObjectiveTo gain a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of patients with COVID-19, regarding rehabilitation, work and social life 6 months after hospital discharge.DesignAn explorative qualitative study with individual interviews.SubjectsPatients of working age with persistent self-reported symptoms at a 3-month follow-up who had received inpatient hospital care with discharge approximately 6 months previously were purposively sampled.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were performed with 10 men and 5 women. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed with inductive thematic analysis.ResultsFour themes were identified: “Social support – crucial, but decreased over time”, “Varying needs of, and access to, rehabilitation”, “Returning to work after COVID-19 – crucial for future prospects” and “An overwhelming experience that essentially changed one’s personality”.ConclusionRehabilitation provided participants with the valuable tools for recovery, giving them hope for future recovery. Support from next of kin was highly valued, creating stronger family bonds. A new meaning and greater appreciation of life was expressed.LAY ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of COVID-19 patients regarding rehabilitation, work and social life 6 months after hospital discharge. Patients of working age with persistent self-reported symptoms at a 3-month follow-up, who had received inpatient care at hospital with discharge approximately 6 months previously, were recruited. Individual interviews were performed with 10 men and 5 women, and the interviews were analysed according to thematic analysis. The study found that the rehabilitation team provided participants with valuable tools for recovery, which made them feel they were improving and gave them hope of future recovery. Support from next of kin was highly valued, and this created stronger family bonds. Participants also expressed a new meaning to, and greater appreciation for, life.

Factors that hinder post-traumatic growth: A systematic review

People who experience major life crises often report post-traumatic stress. However, the literature suggests that traumatic experiences can also be “catalysts” for positive change (i.e., post-traumatic growth; PTG). PTG can include improved relationships, new possibilities for one's life, a greater appreciation for life, a greater sense of personal strength, and spiritual development. Furthermore, it has been suggested that PTG may decrease feelings of distress following exposure to trauma. While a large number of factors may help promote PTG, others may impede the development of growth (e.g., attachment style). These factors constitute key aspects for clinicians working with victims of trauma. Thus, this review aims to present these hindering factors in order to provide guidance for trauma psychologists and future research.

Posttraumatic growth in palliative care patients and its associations with psychological distress and quality of life.

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) refers to positive psychological changes resulting from individuals' inner struggles with traumatic events such as life-threatening illness. Although palliative care patients are confronted with their own mortality, little is known about their PTG experience. This study investigates whether PTG is an empirically relevant concept for palliative patients by assessing the prevalence and areas of growth, and examining associations with psychological distress and quality of life. Participants were recruited in Switzerland. Using validated questionnaires, we assessed PTG (Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, PTGI), psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and quality of life (McGill-Quality of Life Questionnaire - Revised). We performed descriptive analyses, Spearman correlations, and linear regressions. Fifty-five patients completed the PTGI, 44% of whom experienced no/low growth, 47% moderate growth, and 9% high/very high growth. Participants experienced the greatest positive changes in terms of appreciating life and relating to others. We found significant negative bivariate correlations between PTG and psychological distress (r = -0.33) and between PTG and depression (r = -0.47). Linear regressions showed that PTG is associated with depression (β = -0.468; p = 0.000), but not with anxiety or quality of life (adjusted R2 = 0.219). Over half of our patients experienced moderate to very high growth, indicating that PTG is an empirically relevant psychological process in palliative care. PTG is associated with lower levels of depression, possibly as those experiencing growth are more able to process past traumas and build a more positive outlook on one's life and self. By contrast, the relative independence of anxiety and PTG points to the likely coexistence of positive and negative psychological responses to trauma. The lack of association between PTG and quality of life points to the uniqueness of the PTG concept in capturing how people access deeper meaning and greater appreciation of life along the path toward posttraumatic self-reconstruction.

Locating event centrality in associations of emotion regulation with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and posttraumatic growth in emerging adults

Previous research suggests that cognitive reappraisal (CR) and expressive suppression (ES) strategies of emotion regulation (ER) are associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG). How the patterns of these associations may vary in the context of event centrality (EC) however requires investigation to help delineate groups for whom the impact of event centrality may be more salient. We examined whether EC would moderate the associations of CR and ES with PTSD symptoms clusters and PTG domains among 388 emerging adults (18-30 year-olds) of Tiv ethnic group who were survivors of armed attack by Fulani herdsmen and were temporarily sheltered in two internally displaced persons’ (IDPs’) camps in North-central Nigeria. They completed self-report measures of the variables. Results indicated that EC strengthened the negative associations of CR and the positive associations of ES with avoidance, hyper-arousal and total PTSD symptoms, but not intrusion symptoms. For the PTG domains, EC only strengthened the positive association between CR and personal strength and weakened the association of ES with greater appreciation of life. These findings suggest that primary intervention programs that incorporate training of armed attack survivors in cognitive reappraisal strategy centered on the traumatic event could be effective in controlling PTSD but be less critical in engendering PTG. They also show that the psychological processes that underlie PTSD and PTG are related but involve nuances even within PTSD, and do not seamlessly set into the Janoff-Bulman's “strength through suffering” model of PTG. More research is required to test the model.

Posttraumatic Growth in Youth, Young Adults, and Caregivers Who Experienced Solid Organ Transplant.

To explore posttraumatic growth (PTG) in pediatric patients who have undergone solid organ transplant (SOT) and their caregivers, and to examine potential correlates of PTG. Youth and young adults with a history of SOT (heart, kidney, liver) at least 1 month prior to participation and caregivers completed measures of PTG, demographic, and medical factors. In total, 59 youth (M = 12.68 years, SD = 1.91), 21 young adults (M = 19.37, SD = 0.82), and 95 caregivers (M = 37.95 years, SD = 9.37) participated. Overall, 67% of youth, 76% of young adults, and 89% of caregivers reported PTG within the medium to very high range. Appreciation of Life was the highest PTG subscale across all groups. Youth and caregiver PTG scores were significantly positively correlated. Religious affiliation and religious coping were positively associated with PTG for caregivers, and the relationship yielded large effect sizes for young adults. Caregivers of children with kidney transplants endorsed lower PTG than other organ types and caregivers of children who had an acute medical condition endorsed greater PTG than caregivers of children who had chronic illness. Findings suggest the pediatric SOT experience can yield positive changes such as a greater appreciation of life. Although small sample sizes may have led to reduced power for detecting significant findings for some analyses, results suggest religious, medical, and parent-child relationship factors are likely related to PTG in pediatric SOT and warrant future investigation.

Posttraumatic growth in women who have experienced the loss of their spouse or partner.

The loss of a spouse or long-term partner has a significant impact on a woman's well-being; psychological, physical, social, spiritual, and economic. Women dealing with loss are faced with numerous stressors which place them at risk for a variety of health challenges. The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of women who have lost their spouse or partner to death using the theoretical framework of posttraumatic growth (PTG) developed by Tedeschi and Calhoun. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with semi-structured interviews of 15 widows. Purposive sampling was employed using the researchers' nursing network of colleagues through their academic institutions, hospital affiliations, and professional organizations. Six themes emerged from the data analysis: (1) Listen to my story of loss, (2) Pushing through the sadness, (3) Anticipated versus unanticipated loss, (4) A new depth of compassion and empathy, (5) My strength grew over time, and (6) My view of myself changed. Participants experienced varying degrees of PTG evidenced by a greater appreciation of life, personal strength, improved relationships, new possibilities, and spiritual growth. Knowledge development in this sphere enhances nursing practice in caring for women as they navigate life without their significant other. Nurses are in pivotal positions to educate others about the grieving process and the possibility of PTG. They help women find their way through trauma and teach others about healing, coping, empathy, compassion and the power of being connected to other human beings.

Perceived Positive and Negative Life Changes in Testicular Cancer Survivors.

Background and objectives: Despite a generally good prognosis, testicular cancer can be a life-altering event. We explored perceived positive and negative life changes after testicular cancer in terms of frequency, demographic and disease-related predictors, and associations with depression and anxiety. Materials and methods: All testicular cancer survivors receiving follow-up care at two specialized outpatient treatment facilities were approached at follow-up visits or via mail. We assessed a total of N = 164 patients (66% participation rate, mean time since diagnosis: 11.6 years, SD = 7.4) by the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI, modified version assessing positive and negative changes for each of 21 items), Patient-Health-Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Generalized-Anxiety-Disorder-Scale-7 (GAD-7). We conducted controlled multivariate regression analyses. Results: Most survivors (87%) reported at least one positive change (mean number: 7.2, SD = 5.0, possible range: 0–21). The most frequent perceived positive changes were greater appreciation of life (62%), changed priorities in life (62%), and ability rely on others (51%). At least one negative change was perceived by 33% (mean number of changes: 1.1, SD = 2.5). Negative changes were most frequent for decreases in self-reliance (14%), personal strength (11%), and ability to express emotions (9%). A higher socioeconomic status was associated with more positive changes (β = 0.25, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.42); no other association with demographic and disease-related predictors emerged. While positive life changes were not associated with depression (β = −0.05, 95% CI −0.17 to 0.07) and anxiety (β = 0.00, 95% CI −0.13 to 0.13), more negative life changes were significantly associated with higher depression (β = 0.15, 95% CI −0.03 to 0.27) and anxiety (β = 0.23, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.36). There was no significant interaction of positive and negative changes on depression or anxiety. Conclusions: Although positive life changes after testicular cancer are common, a significant number of survivors perceive negative changes in life domains that have been primarily investigated in terms of personal growth. Early identification of and psychosocial support for patients who perceive predominantly negative changes may contribute to prevention of prolonged symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Post-Traumatic Growth among Patients after Living and Cadaveric Donor Kidney Transplantation: The Role of Resilience and Alexithymia.

The aim of this study was to determine the role of resilience and alexithymia in the post-traumatic growth as a response to extreme stress in patients after kidney transplantation and to determine whether there are differences in the level of posttraumatic growth in patients after living and cadaveric donor kidney transplantation. The relationships between these variables were also evaluated. The questionnaire survey of 91 kidney recipients took place in 2018 and 2019. The following tools were used: authorial post-transplant questionnaire for recipients and validated questionnaires, Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-R), Resilience Coping Scale Questionnaire, and Toronto Alexithymia Scale Questionnaire (TAS20). The results obtained showed significant differences between the group of kidney recipients from living donors and recipients from cadaveric donors, in terms of overall post-traumatic growth, as well as changes in self-perception and a greater appreciation for life. Post-traumatic growth in both groups was related to the level of resilience and the level of alexithymia. Resilience is an accurate predictor of posttraumatic growth in general and for each of the groups of recipients separately.

Post-traumatic growth during the COVID-19 pandemic in carers of children in Portugal and the UK: cross-sectional online survey.

Although the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health have attracted interest, little attention has focused on its positive effects and possible post-traumatic growth. To assess anxiety, well-being and post-traumatic growth in carers of children aged 6-16 years in Portugal and the UK. A cross-sectional online survey of volunteers conducted at the peak of the first wave of COVID-19 during lockdown (1 May to 27 June 2020). A total of 385 caregivers (Portuguese, n = 185; UK, n = 200), predominantly mothers (n = 341, 88.6%), completed the survey. The majority were working exclusively from home (n = 271, 70.4%), almost half reported a reduction in income (n = 174, 45.2%), most children were home taught (n = 358, 93%), and 75 (19.5%) identified a family member with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection. In total, 341 caregivers (88.6%) identified positives arising from COVID-19, most commonly related to the post-traumatic growth domains of improved relationships, a greater appreciation of life, discovering and embracing new possibilities, and positive spiritual change. A comparison of those who did (n = 341) and did not (n = 34) report any positives found a significant difference in well-being scores (t373 = 2.24, P = 0.025) but not in anxiety scores (t373 = 0.75, P = 0.45). Despite experiencing considerable adversity, examples of post-traumatic growth during the lockdown were common. Although the voluntary online nature of our survey is a limitation, our findings suggest that further research exploring post-traumatic growth following pandemics is warranted.

Posttraumatic Growth in Cambodia: A Mixed Methods Study

The majority of psychological research has focused heavily on the negative outcomes of trauma and tends to ignore the positive outcomes of experiencing traumatic events. Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is a concept that stems from positive psychology and was originally developed by R.G. Tedeschi and L.G. Calhoun (2004). PTG is the process of growth after trauma and has been divided into five domains: greater appreciation for life, more intimate relationships, personal strength, recognition of new possibilities, and spiritual development. This mixed methods study utilizes archival data collected in 2015-2016 at the American University of Phnom Penh to examine the experience of growth after trauma that 70 Cambodian participants faced from a quantitative and qualitative perspective. Quantitative analysis determined that the Adult Resilience Measure (ARM) and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) were considered internally reliable and valid measures when used with Cambodians. It was determined that the number of traumatic events one experiences does not influence ones ability to experience PTG or resiliency and the concepts of PTG and resiliency are correlated. The qualitative analysis utilized grounded theory to develop a theory of PTG within Cambodia. These results indicated that Cambodians experience PTG in four core categories including: personal strength, relational strength, avenues of growth and religion/spirituality. The quantitative and qualitative results illustrate that Cambodians experience PTG in a similar manner when compared to the original PTG theory. However, there are cultural nuances that must be taken into account when exploring PTG within the Cambodian population.

Can conflict lead to pro-social behavior and positive psychological growth?

This study examines the effect of conflict on pro-social behavior (e.g., volunteering). To this end, I exploit a panel dataset to track individuals who were in danger of physical injury during a military operation in Israel in 2014 before and after this event, against a control group that was not in danger. My results reveal that following the conflict, individuals who were in physical danger are more likely to behave pro-socially than those who were not. Exploring possible mechanisms, I find increased psychological growth (e.g., closer relations with others and greater appreciation of life) after the operation. Placebo analysis using the pre-conflict period reinforces my conclusions.

Posttraumatic growth following aphasia: a prospective cohort study of the first year post-stroke

ABSTRACT Background Notable positive change arising from the struggle with a major crisis (known as posttraumatic growth – PTG) has been reported following war, accidents and life-threatening illnesses. Whilst negative changes following aphasia are well-documented, positive changes, such as PTG, have not been sufficiently explored. Aims To determine whether people with aphasia can experience PTG throughout their first year post-stroke both quantitatively (Posttraumatic Growth Inventory) and qualitatively (video-taped open-ended interviews). Methods & Procedures Thirteen people with a first incidence of aphasia were assessed at four points in the first year, using a prospective longitudinal cohort study design. Outcomes & Results On the PTG Inventory, there were no significant differences in the mean total score nor in the five posttraumatic growth domains at each stage, although there was a trend to greater growth over time, particularly in relationships, appreciation of life and personal growth. Reflective comments reinforce this evidence and indicate the importance of post-aphasia relationships, enhanced positive traits, a greater appreciation of life and a changed sense of what is important. Conclusions It is apparent that some participants can experience PTG and are redefining themselves positively. Strategies to promote the development of PTG in parallel with other therapeutic tools are detailed.

Growth from adversity in trans and gender diverse people of color

Background Trans-negativity and gender-based discrimination negatively impact on the wellbeing and mental health in transgender (trans) and gender diverse people (TGD). There is limited research on TGD people thriving under adversity, and no research to date has considered TGD people of color in this context. Method We used the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-X) to survey 125 TGD people of color and 625 white TGD adults (18 to 68 years old, M = 26.0, SD = 9.2) about their experiences of growth from adversity. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), using sub-sampling to compensate for our unequal sample sizes, supported a five-factor structure of the PTGI-X consisting of growth in relating to others, finding new possibilities, personal strength, greater appreciation of life, and spiritual/existential change. Measurement invariance tests confirmed configural, metric, and scalar invariance of this structure across the two TGD subgroups. Results A MANOVA revealed that growth from adversity in TGD participants was generally greater than that reported by people who have recently been exposed to a traumatic event. T-tests revealed that TGD people of color experienced more growth in terms of relating to others and more personal strength than white TGD participants. Subsequent hierarchical regressions revealed that race moderated associations between PTGI-X scores and personal well-being, with TGD people of color reporting more benefits (more well-being) at high levels of growth but also more deficits (less well-being) at low levels of growth than the white TGD subgroup. Conclusion The results support the use of the PTGI-X with TGD populations and across racial TGD subgroups and indicate that growth from adversity is not only prevalent in TGD people but also relevant to positive outcomes, particularly in TGD people of color.

Do beliefs influence posttraumatic growth in fathers of children with intellectual disabilities?

BackgroundAlthough facing a child’s intellectual disability (ID) is considered to threaten paternal psychosocial wellbeing, in recent years there has also been a burgeoning interest in positive contributions of raising children with ID, including posttraumatic growth (PTG) in parents. Method142 fathers of children with ID completed Polish versions of three inventories: The Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Basic Hope Inventory (BHI), and General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES). The average child’s age was 11.06 (range: 7−13 years). The stages of the analysis included: descriptive statistics for posttraumatic growth (PTG), basic hope (BH), and self-efficacy (GSE), correlation analysis and the Preacher and Hayes procedure of bootstrapping to test whether GSE mediates the relationship between BH and PTG. Results85.91 % of fathers of children with ID experience average or high levels of PTG with the highest scores in its two dimensions: greater appreciation of life, and positive changes in relations with others. PTG is significantly negatively related to a child’s age. GSE is a significant mediator of the relationship between BH and PTG (total score and all dimensions). ConclusionThe importance of beliefs for experiencing positive changes as a result of raising a child with disability may be useful in therapeutic and supportive activities offered to fathers who experience difficulties in fulfilling their paternal role.

“It’s Brought Me a Lot Closer to Who I Am”: A Mixed Methods Study of Posttraumatic Growth and Positive Change Following a First Episode of Psychosis

Background: A first episode of psychosis is often a traumatic experience that may also lead to positive change, a phenomenon that has received little attention. This knowledge gap may impede service providers’ capacity to foster positive change among service users. Objective: To investigate aspects of positive change among persons receiving early intervention services for psychosis. Design: The study objective was addressed using a mixed methods convergent design, which entailed simultaneously employing qualitative and quantitative methods. Setting: This study was conducted at a specialized early intervention service for psychosis based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Participants: Participants included service users receiving services at an early intervention service for psychosis. Participants had to be fluent in English or French, be clinically stable enough to take part in the study, and have received at least 6 months of treatment. Participants were conveniently sampled in the quantitative component and purposefully sampled in the qualitative component. The quantitative component was carried out using a cross-sectional survey design. Ninety-four participants completed the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, a widely used measure of positive change. Data on the extent and domains of posttraumatic growth were summarized using descriptive statistics. The qualitative component was carried out using a qualitative descriptive approach. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 participants. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings from both components were integrated using a weaving method in the discussion section. Results: Quantitative results indicated that most participants reported a moderate amounts of posttraumatic growth. A greater appreciation of life was the most commonly endorsed domain, whereas spiritual growth was the least commonly endorsed domain. The qualitative results revealed that in addition to suffering, participants experienced positive changes, such as improved health and personality, and a stronger sense of self; stronger, more balanced religiosity and spirituality; improved relationships with others; and improved lifestyles, goals, and expectations for the future. Conclusions: Positive change may be a common phenomenon in the aftermath of first episode psychosis. The study findings may provide hope to those who have experienced a first episode of psychosis and can inform efforts by early intervention services to provide recovery-oriented, growth-focused care.