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Deitz AHH. Self-compassion, childhood emotional neglect, and posttraumatic growth: Parental well-being during COVID-19. J Affect Disord 2024; 350:504-512. [PMID: 38244798 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The CoronaVirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can be conceptualized as a trauma that created additional unique stressors for parents. Self-compassion might promote posttraumatic growth (PTG); however, parents with histories of childhood emotional neglect may struggle to practice self-compassion when their own affectional needs were unmet earlier in life, carrying implications for both parental and child well-being. The objective is to examine the relationship between childhood emotional neglect and pandemic-related PTG, and the moderating role of self-compassion. METHODS An online cross-sectional survey collected information from 436 parents (M = 37.62 years, SD = 9.31) across the U.S. on pandemic- and parenting-related stresses, childhood emotional neglect, self-compassionate behavior, psychological distress, and pandemic-related PTG. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to analyze relationships among childhood emotional neglect, self-compassionate behavior, and pandemic-related PTG. RESULTS Parents who reported greater frequency of self-compassionate behavior tended to report higher pandemic-related PTG. Childhood emotional neglect alone did not predict pandemic-related PTG; however, for parents who reported less frequent self-compassionate behavior, greater childhood emotional neglect predicted lower pandemic-related PTG. LIMITATIONS The cross-sectional design and sample homogeneity limit both causal inference and generalizability. Limitations in operationalization of PTG and self-compassion constructs are discussed. CONCLUSIONS Findings emphasize the utility of self-compassionate behavior in promoting pandemic-related PTG, especially for adults with histories of childhood emotional neglect. Self-compassion is a freely accessible practice that individuals can implement successfully with minimal instruction. In terms of clinical relevance, therapists may be able to identify points of intervention wherein self-compassion may stimulate pandemic-related PTG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison H H Deitz
- University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Social Work, 525 W. Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States of America.
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Predko V, Schabus M, Danyliuk I. Psychological characteristics of the relationship between mental health and hardiness of Ukrainians during the war. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1282326. [PMID: 38023017 PMCID: PMC10667431 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1282326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives The aim of our survey is to identify psychological features for the relationship between mental health and hardiness of Ukrainians during the war. Methods The study involved 608 Ukrainians. We aimed to identify the relationship between mental health and hardiness and determine the differences in the peculiarities of mental health of people with different levels of hardiness. Also we looked for predictors for hardiness. Results Subjective hardiness was found to be related to specific manifestation of mental health in the Ukrainian population. Strong correlations were revealed for hardiness with adaptation (ρ = 0.818), emotional comfort (ρ = 0.786), internality (ρ = 0.672), self-perception (ρ = 0.656,), escapism (ρ = -0.632) and mental health (ρ = 0.629). A prognostic model based on linear regression analysis identified the main predictors of personal hardiness and confirmed correlational analysis. Mental health (0.341), emotional comfort (ρ = 0.786), and escapism (-0.576) were found to be good predictors. Altogether 40.1% of Ukrainians scored low, 54.6% medium, and 5.3% high on individual hardiness. Conclusion The study found that about every 4th Ukrainian demonstrates a low level of personal hardiness, which is accompanied by emotional discomfort and lack of internal locus of control, making them more susceptible to stress and illness. Additionally, they tend to distance themselves which significantly exacerbates the situation. It has been found that Ukrainians with low levels of personal hardiness exhibit escapism (with diversion of the mind to imaginative activity), a destructive defense mechanism that not only prevents effective problem solving but also has long-term negative consequences for their overall health. Consequently, especially people with low hardiness should receive specific support to stabilize their mental wellbeing and health overall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoriia Predko
- Department of General Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Manuel Schabus
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Ivan Danyliuk
- Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine
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Kokun O. The personal growth resources of the adult population following the first months of the war in Ukraine. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 58:407-414. [PMID: 37170661 DOI: 10.1002/ijop.12915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
We aimed to determine the peculiarities of personal growth resources among the adult population following the first months of the war in Ukraine. The study, which included 1257 respondents (32.3% male and 67.7% female, aged 18-61+ years), used the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory-Expanded, the Brief Resilience Scale, the Professional Hardiness Questionnaire and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. We found the following descending sequence of expression of the components of personal growth: appreciation of life, spiritual and existential changes, relations to others, new possibilities and personal strengths. Personal resources included resilience, professional commitment, professional control, professional challenge acceptance and self-efficacy, of which the last two were the most important. All indicators of personal growth were significantly higher in women but were more closely related to personal resources in men. Our findings suggest directions interventions should take to promote the Ukrainian adult population's personal growth and prevent negative mental health consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Kokun
- G.S. Kostiuk Institute of Psychology of National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
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ODACI H, TÜRKKAN T. Treatment Issues While Addressing Child Sexual Abuse: A Review. PSIKIYATRIDE GUNCEL YAKLASIMLAR - CURRENT APPROACHES IN PSYCHIATRY 2023. [DOI: 10.18863/pgy.1181095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Child sexual abuse is a traumatic life event that has social, psychological, political and cultural dimensions which is observed in many societies. Sexual abused children are at risk of developing behavioral, emotional, cognitive and physical health problems throughout their lives, and are especially vulnerable when their current condition is combined with other risk factors, such as poverty. In the relevant literature, it is reported that these children have a greater risk of having psychological problems and require treatment. There is evidence that psychotherapeutic treatments have beneficial effects, including ensuring the physical and emotional safety of victims, helping to relieve trauma symptoms, improving quality and functioning of life, and preventing recurrence of abuse. In this review, some of the most common treatment issues for sexual abused children are presented. The appropriateness of the treatment issues and proposed interventions addressed may vary for each victim. These treatment issues and interventions are designed not only to remedy any harm that may have occurred, but also to minimize the negative consequences of experiences of child abuse and prevent future recurrence of maltreatment.
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Sultana Eliav A, Lahav Y. Posttraumatic Growth, Dissociation and Identification With The Aggressor Among Childhood Abuse Survivors. J Trauma Dissociation 2023; 24:410-425. [PMID: 36855260 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2023.2181478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Childhood abuse puts individuals at risk for psychopathology and psychiatric symptoms such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety symptoms. At the same time, research has indicated that some survivors report positive transformations in the aftermath of their trauma, known as posttraumatic growth (PTG). Yet the essence of PTG reports is questionable, and some scholars claim that it may reflect maladaptive illusory qualities. Furthermore, according to a recent theoretical model, PTG might be dissociation-based and related to survivors' bonds with their perpetrators. This study aimed to explore these claims by assessing PTG, dissociation, and identification with the aggressor (IWA), as well as PTSD and anxiety symptoms. An online survey was conducted among 597 adult childhood abuse survivors. Study variables were assessed via self-report measures. Analyses indicated positive associations between PTG, dissociation, and IWA. Three distinct profiles were found, reflecting high, medium, and low scores on PTG, dissociation, and IWA. Profile type explained PTSD and anxiety symptoms above and beyond gender, age, and abuse severity. These findings suggest that whereas some childhood abuse survivors might experience a positive transformation subsequent to their trauma, others' PTG reports might reflect dissociative mechanisms and pathological attachments to their perpetrators, and thus might be maladaptive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayala Sultana Eliav
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Yael Lahav
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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Schleider JL, Woerner J, Overstreet C, Amstadter AB, Sartor CE. Interpersonal Trauma Exposure and Depression in Young Adults: Considering the Role of World Assumptions. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2021; 36:6596-6620. [PMID: 30574826 PMCID: PMC7359202 DOI: 10.1177/0886260518819879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The transition to young adulthood confers heightened risk for depression, and exposure to interpersonal trauma (IPT) can magnify this risk. However, not all IPT-exposed young adults develop depressive symptoms, and not all young adults with depressive symptoms report past IPT, suggesting a need to identify moderators of the IPT-depression link. This study investigated whether four different world assumptions-core beliefs about the nature of the world-moderated the association between IPT exposure and depressive symptoms in college students (N = 1,084, M age = 19.5, 74.1% female). Participants self-reported IPT exposure, depressive symptoms, and world assumptions via an online survey. We predicted that the IPT-depressive symptom association would be weaker among young adults with more positive assumptions about the safety of the world, trustworthiness of people, predictability of people, and controllability of events, versus those with more negative world assumptions in these domains. Hierarchical regression results supported this prediction with respect to one world assumption type: more positive beliefs about the world's safety significantly attenuated the relation between past IPT exposure and present depressive symptoms, ΔF(1, 1061) = 9.54, ΔR2 = 0.01, p = .002. The IPT-depressive symptom link was over 3 times as strong for young adults with weak "world-is-safe" assumptions, versus those with strong "world-is-safe" assumptions. No other world assumption types emerged as moderators. Lay theories of the world's safety may represent a basic, survival-oriented belief with implications for depressive symptoms following safety threats, such as IPT. Addressing "world-is-safe" assumptions may enhance depression prevention efforts for IPT-exposed young adults.
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Posttraumatic stress disorder and growth: Examination of joint trajectories in children and adolescents. Dev Psychopathol 2021; 34:1353-1365. [PMID: 34092267 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421000213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Positive health endpoints are not the opposite of negative endpoints. Previous studies examining posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) trajectories have overlooked the co-existence of PTSD and PTG, making it difficult to accurately distinguish individuals with various posttraumatic presentations, causing the effects of targeted interventions to be discounted. To fill this gap, the current study sought to examine joint PTSD and PTG trajectories in children and adolescents. Eight hundred and seventy-six Chinese children and adolescents were recruited to complete self-report questionnaires 6, 12, and 18 months after the Ya'an earthquake. Multiple-process growth mixture modeling analysis was used to test the study proposal. Five distinct joint PTSD and PTG trajectory types were found: recovery, growth, struggling, resistant, and delayed symptoms. Female students and students who felt trapped or fearful were more likely to be in the struggling group, and students who experienced injury to themselves or family members were more likely to belong to the delayed symptom group. These findings suggest that postdisaster psychological services should be provided to relieve delayed symptoms in individuals who experience injury to themselves or their family members, and individuals in the struggling group should be supported to achieve growth.
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Greenblatt-Kimron L. World assumptions and post-traumatic growth among older adults: The case of Holocaust survivors. Stress Health 2021; 37:353-363. [PMID: 33098210 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic events may lead to post-traumatic growth (PTG). Nevertheless, little is known about the mechanisms leading to PTG, especially among older adults. This study sought to examine the direct relationship between world assumptions and PTG and the indirect relationship between them via two possible mediation pathways: post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and meaning in life. One hundred fifty-nine Holocaust survivors participated in the study (mean age = 82.34, SD = 5.81). Participants completed questionnaires of world assumptions, meaning in life, PTSS and PTG. The findings showed that world assumptions were positive and were positively associated with meaning in life and PTG and negatively associated with PTSS. The results of the multiple mediation model suggest that meaning in life and PTSS partially mediated the relations between world assumptions and PTG. Positive world assumptions were associated with higher meaning in life, which was associated with higher PTG. In contrast, despite the direct association between PTSS and PTG, the mediating effect of PTSS was negative, thus the more positive the world assumptions, the higher the PTG mediated by lower PTSS. The results suggest that the relationship between world assumptions and PTG may be direct and indirect. These findings suggest possible mechanisms underlying PTG, especially in old age.
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Hamam AA, Milo S, Mor I, Shaked E, Eliav AS, Lahav Y. Peritraumatic reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic - The contribution of posttraumatic growth attributed to prior trauma. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 132:23-31. [PMID: 33038562 PMCID: PMC7525333 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Trauma survivors who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may be particularly vulnerable when facing the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet trauma exposure may also lead to salutogenic outcomes, known as posttraumatic growth (PTG). Nevertheless, the implications of PTG attributed to prior trauma, for trauma survivors' adjustment when facing additional stressors, are unclear. Addressing this gap, 528 Israeli trauma survivors were assessed for PTG and PTSD symptoms attributed to prior trauma, as well as peritraumatic stress symptoms related to the pandemic, as part of an online survey. Analyses revealed that being younger, female, quarantined, negatively self-rating one's health status, and suffering from PTSD symptoms were associated with elevated peritraumatic stress symptoms. Furthermore, PTG attributed to prior trauma made a significant contribution in explaining elevated intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal symptoms. The present results point to the need for clinicians to take into account reports of PTG attributed to prior trauma when treating trauma survivors during the current pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa Abu Hamam
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
| | - Shai Milo
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
| | - Inbar Mor
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
| | - Elit Shaked
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
| | - Ayala Sultana Eliav
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
| | - Yael Lahav
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
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Lahav Y, Ginzburg K, Spiegel D. Post-Traumatic Growth, Dissociation, and Sexual Revictimization in Female Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors. CHILD MALTREATMENT 2020; 25:96-105. [PMID: 31248267 DOI: 10.1177/1077559519856102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors are at high risk of sexual revictimization. At the same time, some survivors report positive transformations resulting from the traumatic experience, a phenomenon known as post-traumatic growth (PTG). Although one might expect PTG to be related to reduced risk of revictimization, the link between PTG and revictimization has not been investigated. Furthermore, mixed findings regarding the associations between PTG and distress imply that the effects of PTG are multifaceted. One potential explanation may be that dissociation shapes the implications of PTG, making it more like denial than adaptive processing of traumatic experience. This longitudinal study explores (a) the associations between PTG and sexual revictimization and (b) the moderating role of dissociation within the associations between PTG and revictimization. METHOD Participants were 111 female CSA survivors who participated in a 6-month efficacy trial evaluating the effectiveness of group psychotherapy for CSA survivors with HIV risk factors. RESULTS Dissociation moderated the associations between PTG and revictimization: Whereas PTG had nonsignificant effects on revictimization in participants with low dissociation, it predicted elevated levels of revictimization in participants with high dissociation. CONCLUSIONS Reports of PTG among some CSA survivors might mirror dissociative beliefs that increase their risk of revictimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Lahav
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Karni Ginzburg
- Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - David Spiegel
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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Stein JY, Levin Y, Bachem R, Solomon Z. Growing Apart: A Longitudinal Assessment of the Relation Between Post-traumatic Growth and Loneliness Among Combat Veterans. Front Psychol 2018; 9:893. [PMID: 29930525 PMCID: PMC5999757 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The aftermath of war-related trauma may entail psychological devastation and is typically accompanied by various deleterious phenomena. These include, but are not limited to, high rates of loneliness. However, trauma may also result in positive outcomes such as personal, spiritual, and relational prosperity, which are typically considered under the conceptual framework of post-traumatic growth (PTG). PTG may theoretically contribute to either loneliness amelioration (e.g., via increasing one's appreciation of close relationships) or exacerbation (e.g., by increasing one's sense of undergoing experiences that others do not share). Loneliness, on the other hand, may potentially hinder PTG by fostering negative social cognitions and behaviors, or otherwise lead to personal growth. The relations between the two phenomena, however, have yet to be investigated. Filling this gap, the current study examined the aforementioned potentialities by utilizing an autoregressive cross-lagged modeling strategy (ARCL) with a cohort of 260 Israeli combat veterans assessed 30, 35, and 42 years after their participation in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Results indicated that higher rates of PTG were consistently related to higher rates of loneliness both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Loneliness, however, did not longitudinally predict PTG rates. It is suggested that these findings may be understood in light of the observation that veterans' loneliness is primarily related to the experience of being experientially out of sync with people who have not endured war experiences. It is suggested that this experiential loneliness may include not only the negative but also the positive ramifications of undergoing such traumas (i.e., PTG). We, therefore, argue that while PTG may include authentic positive transformations it may also lead to more negative ramifications, and these should be identified and addressed by researchers and clinicians alike. Thus, as study limitations are acknowledged, clinical implications, and future research directions are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Y. Stein
- I-CORE Research Center for Mass Trauma, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yafit Levin
- I-CORE Research Center for Mass Trauma, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Rahel Bachem
- I-CORE Research Center for Mass Trauma, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Zahava Solomon
- I-CORE Research Center for Mass Trauma, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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