Effects of Character Strength-Based Intervention vs Group Counseling on Post-Traumatic Growth, Well-Being, and Depression Among University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Guangdong, China: A Non-Inferiority Trial

The Silver Lining of Posttraumatic Growth around the Dark Side of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A School-Based Intervention with Mindfulness and Character Strengths Practices among Children

The theory of posttraumatic growth (PTG) proposes that from life difficulties positive changes can happen, such as deepened personal relationships and an awareness of new possibilities in life. PTG can occur naturally or can be facilitated. This study aimed to promote PTG through a school-based intervention of eight sessions of 45 min each with mindfulness and character strengths practices (the so-called "The exploration of happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic"). The study conducted assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up (i.e., one month after the intervention). The post-intervention results showed that the participants in the intervention group experienced an improvement in PTG, well-being, mindfulness, strengths use, and PTS symptoms compared to the children in the control group. Furthermore, these positive changes were sustained at follow-up. The findings of this study highlight that mindfulness-based strengths practices can increase positive outcomes (i.e., well-being, posttraumatic growth) and reduce negative psychological symptoms (PTS) among children. The implications for theory and practice are discussed, and detailed appendices for practitioners are provided.

Trait rumination in post-stress growth among Chinese college students: the chain mediating effect of distress disclosure and perceived social support

Background

Rumination has emerged as a significant factor contributing to personal growth following periods of stress or trauma. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between trait rumination and post-stress growth (PSG) within the context of Chinese college students who encounter mild stressors in their daily lives. Moreover, we aim to evaluate the potential mediating roles played by both distress disclosure and perceived social support in this dynamic relationship.

Method

All participants completed assessments using the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist, Rumination Response Scale, Post-Stress Growth Inventory, Distress Disclosure Index, and Perceived Social Support Scale. Correlation and mediation analyses were conducted using SPSS PROCESS 4 MACRO.

Results

All students reported experiencing mild psychological impacts as a result of negative life events in the past year and displayed moderate levels of PSG. There was no significant correlation observed between the effects of negative life events and PSG. Significant negative correlations were found between trait rumination and distress disclosure, perceived social support, and PSG. Distress disclosure and perceived social support jointly operated as sequential mediators in the relationship between trait rumination and PSG among all the participants. Qualitative analyses revealed different correlation patterns of high- versus low-ruminator.

Conclusion

Trait rumination affects PSG both directly and indirectly, through its influence on distress disclosure and perceived social support. Our results emphasize the significance of actively participating in distress disclosure and nurturing a robust sense of social support to counteract the detrimental effects of rumination on post-stress growth among Chinese college students.

"Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the post-traumatic growth inventory with university students in Jordan

Post-traumatic Growth plays a key role to cope with traumatic incidents. The scale for Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) has been used by several researchers in different languages. This study aims to evaluate the Arabic-translated version of the PTGI scale by focusing on its validity in different languages and contexts. This study introduces an Arabic version of the PTGI-M normed with 417 undergraduate students at a large university in Jordan. The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest reliability of the instrument were 0.97 and 0.82, respectively. Bivariate correlation was used to approximate the concurrent validity (CV). Significant correlations were found between the PTGI-M and the beck depression inventory (BDI), perceived stress scale (PSS), Taylor's manifest anxiety (TMAS), satisfaction with life (SWL), and the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess the convergent and discriminant validity of the translated scale. Convergent and discriminant validity was established for the Arabic version of the PTGI-M by conducting a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). In conclusion, this study proposes that future investigations should consider analysing the total PTGI-M subtotal scores to comprehend the complexity of the post-traumatic growth experience.