Sense of Stress and Posttraumatic Growth in Mothers of Children with Cystic Fibrosis-The Moderating Role of Resilience

Post-traumatic growth correlates among parents of children with chronic illnesses: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Parenting a child with a chronic illness presents a complex journey marked by various challenges, along with possible personal growth following these challenges. In this systematic review we present three meta-analyses, in order to examine the associations of post-traumatic growth (PTG) among parents of children with diverse chronic illnesses, and psychological distress, social support, and resilience. Analyzing 34 studies encompassing a total of 5328 parents, the results reveal several key findings. First, PTG was found to be prevalent among the parents. Second, there was no significant correlation between PTG and psychological distress, suggesting that these two processes may exist independently. Third, a positive correlation was observed between PTG and both social support and resilience-related factors, underscoring the role of these factors in fostering growth among parents of children with chronic illnesses. Additionally, illness type emerged as a moderator, affecting the strength of the above-mentioned correlations with PTG. Specifically, in the case of psychiatric illnesses, correlations of PTG with social support and resilience were stronger than in the context of other illnesses. Overall, this review emphasizes the significance of recognizing and addressing PTG correlates among parents of children with chronic illnesses, offering insights for clinical practice.

Individuals who see the good in the bad engage distinctive default network coordination during post-encoding rest

Focusing on the upside of negative events often promotes resilience. Yet, the underlying mechanisms that allow some people to spontaneously see the good in the bad remain unclear. The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotion has long suggested that positive affect, including positivity in the face of negative events, is linked to idiosyncratic thought patterns (i.e., atypical cognitive responses). Yet, evidence in support of this view has been limited, in part, due to difficulty in measuring idiosyncratic cognitive processes as they unfold. To overcome this barrier, we applied Inter-Subject Representational Similarity Analysis to test whether and how idiosyncratic neural responding supports positive reactions to negative experience. We found that idiosyncratic functional connectivity patterns in the brain's default network while resting after a negative experience predicts more positive descriptions of the event. This effect persisted when controlling for connectivity 1) before and during the negative experience, 2) before, during, and after a neutral experience, and 3) between other relevant brain regions (i.e., the limbic system). The relationship between idiosyncratic default network responding and positive affect was largely driven by functional connectivity patterns between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the rest of the default network and occurred relatively quickly during rest. We identified post-encoding rest as a key moment and the default network as a key brain system in which idiosyncratic responses correspond with seeing the good in the bad.

Distinguishing between resilience and posttraumatic growth: perceptions of and attitudes toward depression

The current study investigated differences between resilience and posttraumatic growth (PTG) by examining their distinctive roles in perceptions of and attitudes toward depression. A series of mixed ANOVAs analyzed the differences in individuals' perceptions of and attitudes towards depression. College students (N = 300) completed a survey including the Brief Resilience Scale and the short form of the PTG Inventory and then read and evaluated vignettes describing an individual with either modern-type or traditional-type depression. Those high in resilience found individuals with depression, especially modern-type, less familiar and were less likely to think therapy would effectively help them. Those high in PTG found depressed individuals more familiar and were more willing to provide support regardless of depression type. These results suggest differing attitudes toward mental disorders based on levels of PTG and resilience, displaying critical differences in their nature.