Assessing the Latent Structure of Posttraumatic Growth and Its Relationship With Cognitive Processing of Trauma Among Filipino Women Victims of Intimate Partner Abuse

Posttraumatic Growth in Women Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Abuse

The purpose of the current qualitative descriptive study was to describe the experiences of women who have endured intimate partner abuse using the theoretical framework of posttraumatic growth (PTG). Women (N = 14) who reported emotional and/or physical abuse by their male partners were interviewed. Five themes were identified: Acknowledging the Abusive Relationship; Fear of Him: Threats, Control, Pain, and Isolation; Accepting Support: Grabbing the Life Preserver; Rediscovering Myself: Digging Deep; and Appreciating Life and Helping Others. Findings have practical implications for nurses who are in pivotal positions to educate and influence others about the possibility of PTG following partner abuse. Nurses can help women find their way through this trauma and teach others about coping, healing, and recovery. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 61(8), 34-41.].

Posttraumatic Growth and Its Measurement: A Closer Look at the PTGI’s Psychometric Properties and Structure

Despite negative connotations, surviving trauma can result in improvements in some domains of a person’s life. This phenomenon is known as posttraumatic growth (PTG), and it is typically measured using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Given the ambiguous results of the existing validation studies, the present study aimed to verify the psychometric properties of the Slovak version of the PTGI in a representative sample of Slovak citizens. Although the results suggest that a modified one-factor structure fit the data best, other issues, such as extremely high correlations between the latent factors related to the PTGI’s factor structure, were observed. It is likely that the application of the latent variable model does not represent the essence of PTG adequately and the network approach thus appears to be a far more suitable conceptualization of PTG. More detailed information on between-person differences and within-person changes in PTG could help to tailor more effective interventions or preventive programs.

Validation of an ultra-short version of the posttraumatic growth inventory in Colombian adults exposed to COVID-19

We aimed to evaluate whether an ultra-short version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) has adequate psychometric properties, with a Colombian sample (N = 931) vulnerable to SaRS-CoV-2 infection. Results indicated that adequate indicators of goodness-of-fit, convergent validity, internal consistency, and factorial invariance. Therefore, this instrument is recommended for the screening of posttraumatic growth associated with the COVID-19 pandemic that may be present in the Colombian population.

Factors Promoting Posttraumatic Growth in Sexual Minority Adults Following Adolescent Bullying Experiences

The minority stress model posits that stigmatized identities expose sexual minority individuals to chronic stressors that contribute to health disparities, but that individual-level resources may mitigate psychological distress. Sexual minority adolescents experience one such stressor, bullying victimization, at higher rates than heterosexual peers. Whereas negative consequences of sexual identity-based bullying are well documented, potential positive outcomes are not well understood. The present work examined hypothesized pathways to posttraumatic growth (PTG)-positive psychological changes stemming from trauma-in sexual minority adults following adolescent bullying experiences. We predicted that attributing bullying to one's sexual identity, as opposed to other factors (e.g., weight/appearance, personality), would exacerbate perceived bullying severity but, in turn, enhance PTG. We also predicted that outness about sexual identity would enhance social support and, in turn, facilitate PTG. The hypothesized conceptual model was tested in two samples of sexual minority adults who had experienced bullying during adolescence (Sample 1: Community Sample [N = 139]; Sample 2: National Online Sample [N = 298]), using structural equation modeling with Bayesian estimation. Mediation hypotheses were tested using the PROCESS v3.4 macro. Participants reported their adolescent experiences with bullying, attributions for bullying, outness, social support, and PTG as a result of adolescent bullying experiences, in addition to demographics. Supporting the hypothesized model, in both samples, attributions to sexual identity-based bullying directly and indirectly (via bullying severity) predicted greater PTG, and outness predicted greater PTG through proximal impact on social support. This research underscores the importance of supportive responses to individuals who disclose sexual minority identities and of (re)framing attributions about bullying to facilitate growth.

The Mediating Role of Cognitive Processing in the Relationship Between Negative and Positive Effects of Trauma Among Female Victims of Domestic Violence

Exposure to domestic violence may lead not only to negative but also positive consequences of trauma. Negative effects are indicated by posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs), and positive effects by posttraumatic growth (PTG) changes. PTG has been conceptualized to follow experiences of PTSSs. Therefore, the positive and negative effects of trauma appear to be related to one another. The cognitive processing may play a special role in determining whether the positive and negative consequences of trauma exposure are experienced. The aim of the study was to establish the mediating role of multiple patterns of cognitive processing, reflected by the cognitive strategies used to cope with trauma, in the relationship between negative and positive posttraumatic changes in women following domestic violence. Data were obtained from 63 Polish women who had experienced domestic violence. The age of the respondents ranged from 19 to 71 years (M = 42.25, SD = 14.81). The Polish versions of the following standardized tools were used: the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and the Cognitive Processing of Trauma Scale (CPOTS). PTSS severity appeared to be negatively related to that of PTG. Negative coping strategies were positively related to the PTSS severity but negatively to PTG, while positive strategies were negatively related to the PTSS severity but positively to PTG. Cognitive strategies for coping with trauma, such as resolution/acceptance, downward comparison, and regret, appeared to play a mediating role in the relationship between PTSS severity and PTG. Positive coping strategies strengthen the occurrence of positive posttraumatic changes while strategy of regret weakens the PTG changes occurrence. The process of adaptation and human development among people who have experienced traumatic events is favored by the use of more frequent positive and less frequent negative strategies of dealing with trauma.

The Role of Social Support in Identity Processes and Posttraumatic Growth: A Study of Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of social support for posttraumatic growth (PTG) and identity processes in a sample of 217 women victims of intimate partner violence (IPV), recruited from women shelters, social support centers, and through counseling psychologists. The results of the study highlight the important role of social support in seeking positive personal resolutions after experiencing traumatic events of IPV. It indicates that social support, but not social nonsupport, predicts higher levels of PTG and the development of new positive identities. In particular, social support was positively associated with the manifestation of all five identity processes, that is, with identification with commitment, commitment making, exploration in breadth, exploration in depth, and ruminative exploration. Furthermore, contextual and socioeconomic factors, such as time after last violence, relationships with the perpetrator, place of residence, education, and age of the victims of IPV were also related to identity processes. Severity of the violence, time after the last violence, education, and personal income were related to PTG. Thus, this study indicated that there are significant contextual and socioeconomic differences in the PTG and reconsideration of one's identity. Recommendations for practitioners and future research have been suggested.

[Posttraumatic growth in survivors of intimate partner violence: A French pilot study]

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to: (1) evaluate posttraumatic growth in survivors of intimate partner violence, (2) compare and characterize this posttraumatic growth with the one measured in survivors of other types of violence, and (3) evaluate post-traumatic stress disorder and its relationship with posttraumatic growth in our clinical population.

METHODS

We realized a monocentric pilot study in Poitiers (Vienne, France) recruiting 17 survivors of intimate partner violence and 42 survivors of other types of violence from two medical departments: the Unit of Forensic Medicine, where victims are oriented following complaints, and the Psychotrauma Center. Participants were administrated questionnaires comprising socio-demographics data and specific scales, namely the PTGI and PCL-5.

RESULTS

We found a higher prevalence of posttraumatic growth in survivors of intimate partner violence (82 %), when compared with survivors of sexual assault and other interpersonal types of violence (52 % and 53 %, respectively). Posttraumatic growth was low to moderate, and faster as it was detected in victims recruited in the Unit of Forensic Medicine. All domains of posttraumatic growth were positively affected, i.e. higher scores from the PTGI were recorded in survivors of intimate partner violence. No difference was found when results were compared between groups from the Psychotrauma Center. We were unable to identify socio-demographic predictors of posttraumatic growth. À posttraumatic stress disorder was found in survivors of intimate partner violence, and negatively related to posttraumatic growth.

DISCUSSION

To our knowledge, this is the first study comparing post-traumatic growth across such conditions and using specific and recognized scales. Our pilot study demonstrated that survivors of intimate partner violence were able to develop low to moderate posttraumatic growth faster than survivors of other types of violence. All domains of posttraumatic growth were affected, demonstrating the ability of survivors to withstand adversity. Scientific data regarding the link between posttraumatic growth and posttraumatic stress disorder is unclear, probably depending on the trauma, the circumstances, the timing of the measurement. In our study, we found a clear negative correlation between the two parameters. Our results underline the necessity to provide overall and rapid intervention in survivors of intimate partner violence, comprising legal, psychological, social and medical approaches, to facilitate the development of posttraumatic growth.

[Post-traumatic growth: Some conceptual considerations]

OBJECTIVE

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) is a quite new concept of positive psychology proposed in the mid-1990s which is still rather confidential in France. This article aims to propose a full description of this concept from an historical view to epidemiological data through underlying mechanisms and evaluation.

METHODS

A literature search identifying relevant results was performed through the Pubmed database.

RESULTS

PTG refers to positive psychological changes experienced as a result of a traumatic life event in order to rise to a higher level of functioning. That is to say that people experiencing psychological struggle following adversity may often see positive outcomes in the aftermath of trauma. Domains of PTG include appreciation of life, relationships with others, new possibilities in life, personal strength and spiritual change. A self-report scale, the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), has been developed. PTG has been demonstrated after various traumatic events such as transport accidents, natural disasters, interpersonal violence or medical problems, with a prevalence ranging from 3 to 98 % depending on the type of trauma.

DISCUSSION

The concept of resilience and some evaluation bias may have been deleterious for the development of the PTG concept in the French-speaking world. There is a need to consolidate data to understand the pathway leading to PTG, noticeably to identify factors contributing to PTG that can help to promote the growth as a new therapy for trauma.