Blackie LER, Hudson NW. Trauma Exposure and
Short‐Term
Volitional Personality Trait Change.
J Pers 2022;
91:583-600. [PMID:
35959550 DOI:
10.1111/jopy.12759]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Research into post-traumatic growth (PTG) finds individuals report positive changes in their identity, relationships, and worldviews after trauma. In a pre-registered 16-week longitudinal study, we examined trait change after recent trauma exposure to test an operationalization of PTG as positive personality change. We examined the influence of intrapersonal and social factors including motivation to change traits, perceived social support, and event centrality.
METHOD
Participants (n = 1004) reported on trauma exposure in past 1-month, centrality of each traumatic event, and social support. Participants with trauma exposure (n = 146) and a matched control group reported on their traits in 8 waves at 2-week intervals, and motivation to change traits in 3 waves.
RESULTS
Although some trait change was observed, it was not consistent with PTG. We found agreeableness declined in the trauma relative to the control group among participants who did not want to change in this trait. Conscientiousness declined for individuals with highly central traumas. Social support predicted increases in emotional stability, conscientiousness, and openness but only for individuals in the control group.
CONCLUSIONS
We discuss the value of defining PTG as positive trait change and suggest future directions including assessment of facet-level changes and ideographic methods.
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