Posttraumatic Growth In Children Research Articles

Post-Traumatic Growth Following Bereavement Among Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Childhood bereavement is a significant event with potential long-term impacts on development. Despite growing interest in post-traumatic growth (PTG) following traumatic events, research specifically addressing PTG in the context of childhood bereavement remains sparse. This systematic review consolidates findings from six quantitative and six qualitative studies exploring PTG in children and adolescents bereaved of a parent, other family members, or a friend. The analysis reveals that bereaved young individuals are capable of experiencing considerable growth post-loss. However, the relationship between age and PTG levels is not clearly established, leaving a gap in the developmental underpinning for PTG. This review suggests that PTG often manifests within a few years post-bereavement but may decline over time. Unexpected loss is marginally associated with greater PTG, whereas there is no evidence to suggest that closeness of the relationship with the deceased correlates with PTG. Qualitative studies revealed three core themes of PTG among bereaved youths: positive transformations in overall relationships, personal development, and changed life outlook. Growth aspects unique to this population were further identified. The study highlights unexplored areas in PTG research, particularly emphasizing the necessity of integrating qualitative and quantitative methodologies to address the intricacies of post-childhood-loss transformation, which is essential for developing effective, person-centred clinical services for children.

Post-traumatic growth among pediatric transplant recipients and their caregivers: A scoping review.

Pediatric transplantation can be a stressful process for patients and caregivers. Some individuals may experience post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and post-traumatic growth (PTG) as a result. Although post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been well-studied in this population, the purpose of the present scoping review is to provide a first synthesis of the existing literature on PTG in pediatric transplant populations. We conducted a literature search of PsycINFO and Scopus in May 2023. Eligible articles must have included a sample of solid organ transplant (SOT) or stem cell transplant (SCT) recipients under age 18, siblings of recipients, or caregivers; and must have examined PTG. Twenty-three studies were identified, and nine studies met inclusion criteria and were included in the review (n = 5 cross sectional; n = 4 qualitative). Cross-sectional studies examined demographic, mental health, and medical correlates of PTG in children and caregivers. PTG was correlated with PTSS among caregivers. Qualitative studies identified themes along each of the five factors of PTG. Findings overwhelmingly focused on caregiver PTG. Qualitative study findings align with the theoretical model of PTG. Additional research is needed to investigate PTG in siblings of children with a transplant and associations between PTG and medication adherence. This scoping review provides insight into positive change processes following a transplant among children and their caregivers.

Secondary posttraumatic growth in children of survivors of the 1994 genocide: The role of childhood trauma, posttraumatic stress, and meaning-making.

Secondary posttraumatic growth in children of survivors of the 1994 genocide: The role of childhood trauma, posttraumatic stress, and meaning-making.

A PROGRAM CALLED "TIME TRAVELLERS" FOR STRENGTHENING RESILIENCE AND STIMULATION OF POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS TRAUMATISED BY WAR

Background. The article is focused on the analysis of the results of approbation of the program for strengthening resilience and stimulation of post-traumatic growth in children and adolescents traumatized by war called "Time Travellers". The structure and brief description of the program, its goals and objectives, principles of construction and main content components are presented. Methods. The article shows the main results of approbation of this program, obtained as a result of testing the participants with the help of the Posttraumatic Growth Questionnaire by R. Tedeschi and L. Calhoun (R. Tedeschi, L. Calhoun), adapted by M.S. Magomed-Eminov. Results. The program to increase resilience and stimulate post-traumatic growth in children and adolescents traumatized by the war "Travelers in Time" is a combination of such areas as tourism and psychotherapy, integrating theoretical and practical knowledge of history, geography, cultural studies, biology, ecology. Conclusions. The presented program involves the creation of a coherent contextual space for safe expressive manifestation of experiences, stabilization of the psychophysiological state, reconstruction of the system of values and beliefs, change of coping strategies, strengthening of dominant and activation of potential resource channels.

Posttraumatic Growth and Trauma from Natural Disaster in Children and Adolescents: - A Systematic Literature Review about Related Factors

ABSTRACT Although children and adolescents often experience negative sequelae in the face of even a single adverse childhood event, they may also perceive several positive changes, which reveal posttraumatic growth (PTG). This literature review aims to clarify the definition of posttraumatic growth, associated factors, and application contexts based on the analysis of empirical data. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using different search engines like PsychINFO, PubMed, etc. Articles were screened and assessed for inclusion criteria and methodological quality. Initially, 42 articles were identified and evaluated in the preliminary search using the identified keywords. Of those retrieved, 21 met the criteria and were included in this study. This review identified several risk factors for developing PTG in children and adolescents. This review makes a valuable contribution to mental health care services in developing strategies for children and adolescents to manage traumatic stress from natural disasters. Supplemental data for this article, including all references, is available online at [link].

Posttraumatic stress and growth in adolescent childhood cancer survivors: Links to quality of life.

Pediatric cancer can be considered an event potentially leading to posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) as well as posttraumatic growth (PTG). While clinically significant levels of PTSS are rare in childhood cancer survivors, PTG is common in this population. However, the relationship of PTG to overall adaptation and quality of life (QOL) in pediatric cancer patients is not clear. Therefore, our study aims to analyse the relationships of PTSS and PTG with QOL in childhood cancer survivors. In this study, 172 childhood cancer survivors completed measures of quality of life (Minneapolis-Manchester Quality of Life Scale; child and adolescent version), posttraumatic stress (UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DMS-IV) and posttraumatic growth (Benefit Finding Scale for Children). Correlation analyses were carried out separately for the child (up to 13 years, N = 47) and adolescent (more than 13 years, N = 125) groups and each QOL dimension. In the adolescent group, the relationship of PTSS and PTG with QOL was further verified by regression analyses while controlling for age, gender, and time off treatment. In children, negative relationships between PTSS and QOL were found, but the relationships between QOL and PTG were not significant. In adolescents, significant relationships were found for all dimensions of QOL and PTSS and also for several dimensions of QOL and PTG. The relationships between PTSS and QOL dimensions were negative in both groups, and the relationships between PTG and QOL in the adolescent group were weakly positive. In adolescents, regression analyses controlling for age, gender and time off treatment were performed and confirmed a negative relationship of PTSS with all QOL dimensions except for social functioning. For PTG, regression analyses revealed a significant positive relationship with QOL dimensions of social functioning, outlook on life and intimate relations. While the relationship between PTSS and QOL is negative for almost all QOL dimensions in children and adolescents, the nature of the relationship between PTG and QOL appears to be more complex and changing over time. PTG in children may reflect different processes with different outcomes than PTG in adolescents.

Posttraumatic growth in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Abstract Aim. The study aimed to identify the presence of posttraumatic growth in children and adolescents with the diabetes mellitus type I and to find out relations with coping strategies. Material and methods. The research group was formed by 102 children aged 12-18 years with diabetes mellitus type I. The research design was a cross-sectional study. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory for Children (PTGI-C) and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ) were used for data collection. Results. The ways of coping with stress are related to the subsequent posttraumatic growth in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. The strongest correlation was found between posttraumatic growth and coping strategies Seeking Social Support and Planful Problem-Solving. The correlation between posttraumatic growth and coping strategy Escape-Avoidance has not been identified. However, this strategy was most often used by adolescents. There was no difference in the level of posttraumatic growth with respect to sex of the respondents and their age, except for the area of Personal Strength and area of Spiritual Change. Conclusions. The facilitation of effective coping strategies by a nurse can have a positive effect on the posttraumatic growth of children and adolescents with diabetes.

The ins and outs of posttraumatic growth in children and adolescents: A systematic review of factors that matter.

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) refers to a positive psychological change that occurs following a seismic and highly challenging life circumstance. An individual who experiences PTG reports posttrauma development that surpasses their baseline level of pretrauma function in various domains. The present systematic review of the current literature aimed to explore factors related to the development of PTG in children and adolescents exposed to trauma. Included studies investigated a range of factors that impact PTG development in youth from five countries: the United States, Israel, China, Japan, and Norway. Studies addressed multiple types of traumatic experiences, including medical trauma, war- and terror-related trauma, and environmental trauma. Findings suggested that factors that impact the development of PTG include the presence of posttraumatic stress symptoms, specifically intrusiveness, and cognitive factors, such as the use of positive reappraisal and deliberate rumination. Many factors demonstrated inconsistencies across studies, such as the impact of age, gender, social support, and parent factors. The findings from this systematic research study encourage the notion that certain clinical intervention strategies, such as deliberate rumination, positive reappraisal coping strategies, and trauma-informed group therapy, may facilitate growth in trauma survivors. Future research should test if these intervention strategies directly impact growth and whether there is an evidence-based form of intervention that can assist clinicians in taking a growth- and strengths-based perspective after trauma.

Investigation of post-traumatic stress disorder and post-traumatic growth in children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer

Investigation of post-traumatic stress disorder and post-traumatic growth in children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer

Finding New Ground—Fostering Post-Traumatic Growth in Children and Adolescents After Parental Death From COVID-19

With 4.7 million deaths worldwide and counting, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has secured its place as one of the deadliest public health crises in a century. To date, public health efforts have focused largely on reducing morbidity and mortality [1], but a new pandemic—a pandemic of grief—has emerged.

Post-traumatic stress symptoms and post-traumatic growth in children and adolescents 12 months and 24 months after the earthquake and tsunamis in Chile in 2010: A longitudinal study.

On 27 February 2010, Chile experienced one of the strongest earthquakes in recorded history. The study aimed to evaluate post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and post-traumatic growth (PTG) in children and adolescents 12 months (T1) and 24 months (T2) after the earthquake and tsunamis in Chile in 2010. Three hundred twenty-five children and adolescents (47.4% girls; 52.6% boys) between the ages of 10 and 16 years participated in the study. The instruments included the Revised Post-traumatic Growth Inventory for Children by Kilmer et al., the Childhood PTSD Scale by Foa et al. and the Rumination Scale for Children by Cryder et al., as well as a scale to assess the severity of the event and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The PTSS and PTG scores decreased at T2. In addition, the main predictors of PTSS and PTG were disruptive experiences, losses after the event and intrusive and deliberate rumination during the previous year. These results enhance understanding of factors related to PTG, improve the ability to predict PTSS and PTG in children and adolescents following natural disasters, and inform the design of intervention strategies to promote better mental health in those affected.

Posttraumatic Growth as a Response to Natural Disasters in Children and Adolescents.

This review examines factors thought to be associated with posttraumatic growth (PTG) (demographic variables, exposure, and family and social processes) among youth exposed to natural disasters, describes the relationship between PTG and posttraumatic stress, and discusses psychological processes (rumination and coping) linked to PTG. Guided by PTG theory and the literature on PTG in adults, research has revealed relationships between PTG and child, environmental, and family and social factors among youth though the results are mixed. Youth's subjective exposure to disasters, their level of posttraumatic stress following the disaster, and the type of psychological processes they employ to cope with the disaster appear to be associated with PTG. Research has garnered preliminary support for PTG in children exposed to natural disasters but additional research is needed to fully explicate these relationships and to understand how these relationships change over time.

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Posttraumatic Growth in Children and Adolescents Following an Earthquake: A Latent Transition Analysis.

This study examined the transitions in classes of posttraumatic stress symptoms and posttraumatic growth in a sample of children and adolescents (N = 757), between 8 and 20 months after the 2013 Ya'an earthquake in China. Using latent profile analysis, three classes of symptoms (resilient, thriving, and struggling) were identified at 8 and 20 months after the earthquake. Latent transition analysis indicated that the majority of survivors remained in the same class during the period, while others showed a transition between different classes over time. The transition was mainly characterized by three paths: from struggling to resilient, and from thriving to either resilient or struggling. Of the survivors who were classified as thriving at 8 months, those transitioning to the struggling class at 20 months were more likely to experience higher levels of loss and injury compared with those transitioning to the resilient class (Cohen's d = 0.72) or remaining in the thriving class (Cohen's d = 0.36) at 20 months postearthquake. Survivors who remained stable in the struggling class were older than those who remained stable in the thriving class (Cohen's d = 0.41) or those who moved from thriving at 8 months to resilient at 20 months after the earthquake (Cohen's d = 0.39). It is recommended that clinicians consider the classes of posttraumatic stress symptoms and posttraumatic growth, and the potential development paths and associated factors, when implementing interventions for children and adolescents after a natural disaster.

Posttraumatic Growth in Children with Cancer

Posttraumatic Growth in Children with Cancer

Posttraumatic Growth in Children and Adolescents Exposed to the 2010 Earthquake in Chile and Its Relationship with Rumination and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

The aim of this study was to assess a predictive model of posttraumatic growth and posttraumatic stress symptoms in children and adolescents exposed to the earthquake in Chile in 2010. 325 children (47.4% male), aged between 10 and 15 years, were surveyed 12 months after the earthquake. The following tests were administered: the posttraumatic growth inventory for children in its brief version of Kilmer et al., the child PTSD symptom scale of Foa et al., the rumination scale for children of Crider et al., along with a scale to assess the trauma severity and a socio-demographic questionnaire. The model was assessed through a path analysis, which showed that deliberate rumination mediated the relationship between trauma severity and intrusive rumination with posttraumatic growth, that intrusive rumination mediated the relationship between the severity of the event and posttraumatic stress symptoms and that the latter mediated the relationship between intrusive rumination and posttraumatic growth. The sex was included as control variable in the path model. The final model achieved adequate fit indexes. The relevance of rumination processes for the development of the psychological consequences in children and adolescents following a natural disaster and their implications for clinical is discussed.

Post-Traumatic Growth in Children and Adolescents

Introduction: Children and adolescents often suffer from adverse or even traumatic events. While clinicians and researchers so far have focused predominantly on their negative consequences more recently it has been postulated that traumatic events may exert positive effects in some individuals. In this context the concept of post-traumatic growth (PTG) has been investigated increasingly in adults. However, so far data in children and adolescents is rare. Method: We performed a narrative review of the current literature regarding PTG especially in children and adolescents as well as the pertinent literature on the PTG framework in general. Results: Data indicates that PTG in youth is quite similar to that observed among adults and can be assessed reliably in childhood and adolescents. However, mechanisms underlying the origination of PTG are still not sufficiently understood and further factors influencing its development have to be identified. Furthermore, there seems to be an overlap between PTG and concepts of resilience. Conclusion: PTG should be considered in the aftermath of trauma and may be useful in therapeutic contexts. There is a considerable dearth of objective measures of PTG causing an intensive debate whether PTG is a real positive identity change or rather a kind of safety mechanism that may be interpreted as a subconscious strategy. Neurobiological data may help to further investigate the “real” character of PTG in the future.

Bullying as a Source of Posttraumatic Growth in Individuals with Visual Impairments

Bullying has been recognized as a major public health concern and may be conceptualized as a potentially traumatic experience. A growing body of literature has documented posttraumatic growth (PTG), or positive psychological changes following traumatic experiences, yet no studies have examined bullying as a potential precursor to PTG. This work examined spontaneous expressions of PTG in response to bullying experiences in a sample of 51 adults with visual impairments (Study 1) as well as quantitative relationships between self-reported bullying severity and PTG in 33 children with visual impairments (Study 2). Adults and children with visual impairments were selected as the test populations because limited available research suggests that individuals with disabilities are disproportionally affected by bullying. Indeed, the current results revealed prevalent bullying experiences reported by adults (84 %) and children (48 %) in these samples. Further, approximately 35 % of the adults who had been bullied spontaneously reported experiencing PTG (Study 1), and self-reported severity of bullying experiences exhibited a large, positive relationship with PTG in children (Study 2). Implications and future directions are discussed.

Post-traumatic growth of children affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and their attitudes to memorial services and media coverage.

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) refers to positive changes that result from coping with a major life crisis or a traumatic event. Factors influencing PTG in youth have not been well characterized but could have a great impact on overall maturation. Fourth to ninth graders (n = 3337) attending elementary or junior high schools located in a district severely damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake completed a questionnaire, including the revised Posttraumatic Growth Inventory for Children (PTGI-C-R) along with the Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms for Children 15 items (PTSSC-15), 31 months after the event. Experience of the disaster, prior traumatic experiences, and attitudes toward memories of the disaster (rumination) were scored by their caregivers and teachers, and effects of these factors on PTG were evaluated. There were no significant associations between PTGI-C-R and sex or experiences of the disaster. However, PTGI-C-R was negatively correlated with age (r = -0.132, P < 0.001). There was significant but very weak negative correlation between PTGI-C-R and PTSSC-15 among the children (r = -0.096, P < 0.001). PTGI-C-R was significantly associated with positive attitudes to memorial services (P < 0.001) and media coverage (P < 0.05). Positive attitudes to deliberate rumination may facilitate PTG in children following natural disasters.

Children's Experience of Posttraumatic Growth: Distinguishing General from Domain-Specific Correlates.

Although the five domains of posttraumatic growth (new possibilities, relating to others, personal strength, spiritual change and appreciation of life) have been studied extensively in adults, little is known about these domains and their correlates in children. We aimed to examine whether demographic and/or social characteristics are related to children’s reports of overall posttraumatic growth and of growth in specific domains. In a general population study, children aged 8–12 years who had been exposed to adverse events (N = 1290) filled out questionnaires on their experiences, demographic characteristics (gender, age, time lag since event), stress reactions, peer support, religiosity and posttraumatic growth. All demographic and social characteristics were related to overall posttraumatic growth, except time lag. Associations varied across the five domains with the strongest effects being found for stress reactions and religiosity. A higher level of stress reactions was related to more growth in all domains (general effect), whereas religious children experienced more spiritual growth than non-religious children without differences on other domains (domain specific effect). Other effects were small, and some did not remain significant after Bonferroni corrections. These findings suggest the presence of both general and domain-specific correlates of child posttraumatic growth. Although effects were generally small, the current findings show the need to differentiate between the domains of posttraumatic growth in both further research and clinical practice. This will allow a better understanding of the mechanisms of posttraumatic growth in children as well as more tailored assessment and intervention.

Posttraumatic growth in children and youth: clinical implications of an emerging research literature.

Posttraumatic growth (PTG), positive change resulting from the struggle with trauma, has garnered significant attention in the literature on adults. Recently, the research base has begun to extend downward, and this literature indicates that youth also evidence PTG-like changes. Researchers have sought to assess the construct, examine its correlates, and understand the factors that contribute to PTG in youth. Drawing from this work, this article considers clinical implications for youth. After briefly describing the PTG construct, its hypothesized process, and its distinction from resilience, the article focuses on key themes in the literature and, with those findings as backdrop, ways in which professionals can facilitate growth in youth who have experienced trauma. This discussion situates PTG within the broader trauma literature and includes specific applications used to date as well as the role of cultural factors. Future directions--salient to practitioners and researchers alike--are considered.