Posttraumatic Growth
Scherry J. Crawford
Liberty University
Abstract
Increasingly stressful events like divorce, illness or trauma from the death of a relative or being involved in a road accident exhibits many negative outcomes in an individual. These issues negatively impact the individual’s adjustment to such occurrence due to depression, psychological distress, anxiety, and at times post-traumatic stress disorder. Post traumatic growth is positive psychological change which is derived from the need to find new purpose and the perceived benefits after the occurrence of a traumatic event.
Running head: POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH 1
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Introduction
Extreme experiences and traumatic events are associated with elicitation of extreme reactions in affected individuals. Victims of such situations in the short or long run develop symptoms of intense fear, night mares, vulnerability, high stress levels, repetitive thought of the events and difficulties in concentrating in their daily activities. Suffering and grief have in the past been considered as part of every individual’s life and it is a necessary steps towards growth(Jayawickreme & Blackie, 2016).
Post traumatic growth is defined as positive change that an individual experience after being involved in a traumatic event. Traumatic events are not responsible for inhibiting positive psychological change, but the experience that an individual undergoes after their beliefs, values and their concept of themselves and the world is shattered. The affected individual realizes that there is no longer meaning to their old perception of life and they therefore endeavor to find new meaning. In the event of an occurrence that brings about trauma, it is essential for the affected to struggle to find new meaning for positive psychological growth and to accept the coexistence between personal distress and growth(Joseph, 2009)
There are two notions in regard to trauma the first being that it has a pathogenic effect. Traumatic events affect an individual’s physical and psychological states which results into complications (mental and physical) that affects theirs overall health status. Research studies also reveal that increased post-traumatic stress is associated to depression, anxiety and alcoholism.
The second aspect on trauma suggests that trauma is salutogenic in nature in that the affected individuals can acquire positive outlooks from their experiences. Survivors of traumatic events would acquire positive psychological changes which significantly improves the overall health of the individual. Post traumatic growth therefore signifies that the affected individual is transformed in better ways that which they initially had before the traumatic experience.
Theoretical framework
A majority of the events reported by growth outcomes include those experienced from natural disasters (e.g. mudslides, floods, earthquakes), disease (e.g. cancer, HIV/AIDS), transport accidents and interpersonal experiences (e.g. war, child abuse, rape)(Joseph, 2009).
Assumed world
Rejection of the existing results
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+ve
New assumed world
Accommodation
Assimilation
Confirming existing results
Post-traumatic processing
Traumatic/trigger occurrence
The aspects of posttraumatic growth
After the occurrence of a traumatic event, survivors undergo varied ways of growth. The victim can undergo all or some of these manifestations. There were initially three documented manifestations namely, a transition in self-perception, interpersonal relationship changes and a change in the perception of life. However with increase in time these domains have risen i.e. an increase in appreciation of life, increased personal strength, changing ones priorities and increased spiritual beliefs(Kállay, n.d.).
1. Appreciation for life
Victims of traumatic events mostly relate to through appreciating the value of life either to a small or large extent. An observable characteristic among the survivors of a traumatic event in the negative aspect is that, these individuals often wonder why they were the ones who went through the events while those on the positive end would be thankful they survived the ordeal. However, from time to time these priorities might change especially for people who have lost their loved as their previous goals become unattainable as it become hard to replace these people and they are left to concentrate on the current issues.
2. Meaningful interpersonal relationships
Interpersonal relationships refer to close, intimate relationships between people. Increased compassion and empathy for the vulnerable individuals is what characterizes this domain. Interpersonal relationships promote social and emotion development which act as preventive factors for both negative and positive post-traumatic outcomes. However, positive post traumatic growth is not always guaranteed especially for social support but more attention should be focused on both aspects (positive and negative) of social support and relationships. Self-disclosure and expression of emotions have all been associated with increased with interpersonal relationships. However, these two aspects do not yield positive results for all traumatic events especially among incest and incest victims. These individuals assume that revealing/confessing their situation it would bring negative results e.g. rejection that would make the affected individuals to exhibit a distant attitude. These negative events that are usually resented in the community makes the affected to inhibit intense desires not to disclose them.
3. Personal strength
Increased personal strength is associated with increased confidence that helps the affected individual to inhibit a sense of security. People in this case believe that if they survived a particular ordeal they can survive any other ordeal.
4. Changed priorities
In this instance, the affected individual alters their original priorities in place of new possibilities related to post traumatic growth. The survivors give up the pursuit of some in goals in search of new ones that bare greater meaning and are of great importance. Moreover, strength can be acquired through perseverance of a unattainable goal within all means. A characteristic of strength is that it acquired though perseverance and letting go of one’s troubles. Additionally, letting go of unattainable goals and adopting those that are attainable have been shown to help the victims of the traumatic event to adapt faster to the situation than their counterparts. Therefore, replacing the unattainable goal with an attainable one at the opportune moment helps the individual to positively cope up with heir situations.
5. Spirituality and changes in the view of life.
This domain is subdivided into existential, spiritual and religious themes. The existential aspect alters the overall perspective of the meaning of life that an individual has before the traumatic by breaking up these assumptions. These changes are representative of growth however these occurrences are associated with uncomfortable situations. High distress levels attributed to trauma initiate beliefs about the meaning of life and they increase the acceptance of inevitability of the occurrence of death. However, this does not mean that the individual can at any point solve or adapt to problems or traumatic situations when they reoccur. Creating a new perspective to life is a long time process(Prati & Pietrantoni, 2009).
Secondly, spirituality is associated with an increase in psychological health through their role in improving the adaptation process after a traumatic event. Adaptation from negative events are influenced through spiritual interventions that greatly impact an individual’s health. Religious beliefs guide a survivor through traumatic events and at times scripture interpretations can initiate growth and strengthen an individual’s former beliefs which significantly increase spiritual growth. In this aspect, the survivors feel a connection to a higher power i.e. A connection with God and they have a greater understanding to the religious beliefs. In some cases, former beliefs can be replaced to ones that are more adaptable. People who are non-religious before a traumatic event can be converted to devout believers after they find relief of their suffering(Dekel, Solomon, & Ein-Dor, 2011).
Trauma is associated with clarification through the creation of meaning. Post traumatic growth is not a final state positivity and freedom from stressful occurrences. People experience different traumatic events that are usually parallel to other stressful events. Additionally, in as much as people claim that undergoing a traumatic event was a beneficial to them but a majority of them wish it should not have happened to them. Growth is not necessarily acquired after a traumatic event also through normal conditions through knowledge, acquisition of new skills and abilities, adapting to already existent information and through increase in age.
Factors associated with post-traumatic growth
A. Religiousness
There are three aspects to religious orientation the first being intrinsic orientation religiosity that is associated which is significantly associated with a constant perception of growth. Quest orientation on the other hand deals with spurs a system that has dual directions and extrinsic orientation is associated with results that negatively impact adaptation. Studies reveal a positive correlation between extrinsic social and personal religious and the development of depression, anxiety and it affects an individual’s self-esteem levels(Calhoun & Tedeschi, 2006).
Research conducted in regard to an individual’s social well-being and their religious orientation reveals no correlation between depression, anxiety and intrinsic orientation. In this instance, intrinsic religiousness is the magnitude through which religion helps an individual to deal with traumatic event s and finding a purpose and benefits of life. Religion in this instance guides an individual towards positive living while working as a motivator for achievement of individual goals. When this system is constant and yields desirable results then an individual can easily comprehend and interpret the traumatic event and their experiences in a manner that reduces negative outcomes. During the post-traumatic process, intrinsic religiosity affects the coping method and optimism of an individual. Therefore, survivors must find meaning and positively reconstruct their lives for post traumatic growth.
B. Satisfaction of social support
Social support offered before an act as a barrier especially for negative events mainly attributed from its two characteristics; personal and environmental aspects. This can be related to an individual’s ability to maintain social and emotional openness towards other individuals and their desire to find trustworthy individuals whom they can confide in.
Affected individuals are at times aware of other people who might help them in their ordeals and in posttraumatic growth as they identify to the through traumatic event narratives. These narratives on the trigger events are effective in forcing the individuals to respond/deal with the questions and issues that hinder their growth and reconstruction. Massive changes can be achieved from the narratives that reduce the experience levels of stress while increasing positivity. The individual must also find a purpose and benefit from the experiences in order to grow.
Research studies reveal that effectively dealing distress is easier when the affected individual can find deeper meaning and have an acceptable perspective to their occurrence. Living with negative outcomes is more difficult especial for case when the affected individual cannot justify the occurrence.
Offering or receiving social support is essential in post-traumatic growth especially if it comes from other victims who have successfully overcome these events. Support from individuals who have overcome these events is significantly associated with higher understanding of the situation. Narrations are also instrumental in the reduction of negative emotions that hinder post traumatic growth.
C. Magnitude of the stressful events after traumatic event occurrence
Traumatic events subject the survivors a number of distressing effects like avoidance that is associated with post-traumatic stress disorders but there are individuals who even after being victims of traumatic events recover without any problems on their own. Stress experienced immediately after the occurrence of a traumatic event is significantly related to growth and extreme traumatic events are associated with increased levels of post-traumatic stress levels.
Less intense stressors do not prompt post traumatic growth but can increase or decrease the levels of distress through adaptation success but through undergoing massive transitions that would initiate post traumatic growth. Massive traumatic events that have an initial characteristic of the value of life and those that cannot be easy controlled encourage post traumatic growth contrary to minor traumatic events that produce less results and they do not alter an individual’s belief.(Ramos & Leal, 2013)
D. Coping strategies
Accepting and interpreting the occurrence of a event promotes post traumatic growth while preventing an individual from being subjected to long term negative effects. Positively reinterpreting the occurrences of events significantly affects growth as this growth is mainly that which is desired. An individual’s desire to acquire positive aspects of a particular event increases their likelihood reporting it.
E. Positive life events
The number of positive live events that an individual experience in the recent past can contribute to post traumatic growth in that people who are subjected to negative experiences in line with positive results are more likely to report post traumatic growth. This occurrence act as barriers to negative results. Individuals who perceive trauma as being time limited are likely to are more likely to recover faster compared to those who have different perspectives.
People who report post traumatic growth from negative traumatic events can become stronger but they have varied levels of distress.
Posttraumatic growth bias
Some reactions to negative events are often exaggerated and might be derive unexpected results. Assessors usually do not doubt individual report authenticity but they question the results in order to classify them as being authentic post traumatic growth.
a) Social desirability
This might lead to false reports that indicate significant traumatic variations through positive thinking. This affects how people think and how they adopt in the event of a traumatic event. It is built on making positive feelings and emotions in that the individual must always be positive in negative situations.
b) Cognitive reconstruction bias
These are mainly situations that an individual develops through deviating from their original selves to have a favorable image which is mistaken for personal growth
c) Downward social comparison
People compare themselves to other individuals and reiterate that they are at better situation than the other individuals. This is mainly an illusion and underestimation off other people’s strengths.
Works cited
Calhoun, L., & Tedeschi, R. (2006). The foundations of post traumatic growth: An expanded framework. Mahwah, NJ.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Dekel, S., Solomon, Z., & Ein-Dor, T. (2011). Posttraumatic Growth and Posttraumatic Distress: A Longitudinal Study. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 4(1).
Jayawickreme, E., & Blackie, R. (2016). Exploring the Psychological Benefits of Hardship, Springer Briefs in Psychology.
Kállay, É. (n.d.). Post-traumatic growth: A brief review. “Babeş-Bolyai” University, Cluj-Napoca.
Prati, G., & Pietrantoni, l. (2009). Optimism, social support, and coping strategies as factors contributing to posttraumatic growth: A meta-analysis. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 14(5).
Ramos, C., & Leal, I. (2013). Post traumatic Growth in the Aftermath of Trauma: A Literature Review about Related Factors and Application Contexts. Psychology, Community & Health, 2(1).
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