Posttraumatic growth in context of positive psychology

SLEZÁČKOVÁ, Alena. Posttraumatic growth in context of positive psychology. In 15th European Conference on Personality, Brno, Czech Republic. 2010.

Basic information

• Original name: Posttraumatic growth in context of positive psychology
• Name in Czech: Posttraumatický rozvoj v kontextu pozitivní psychologie
• Authors: SLEZÁČKOVÁ, Alena.
• Edition: 15th European Conference on Personality, Brno, Czech Republic, 2010.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Requested lectures
• Field of Study: 50100 5.1 Psychology and cognitive sciences
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• Organization unit: Faculty of Arts
• Keywords (in Czech): posttraumatický rozvoj; pozitivní psychologie
• Keywords in English: posttraumatic growth; positive psychology
• Tags: International impact

Abstract

In this study we focused on the new concept, so-called vicarious growth, concerning the posttraumatic growth (PTG) in close relatives of victim of the traumatic experience such is the childhood oncological disease. We used content analysis to analyse statements of 120 parents who have entered the study. We used free responses method for description and subjective evaluation of positive and negative influence of child’s illness on particular domains of family life (health, social relations, values, belief and others). We used content analysis to analyse statements of 120 parents who have entered the study within three years of the study (2006-2009). Main domains of PTG (changed perception of self, realization of new possibilities, changes in interpersonal relations, greater respect for life and changes in spirituality) were distinguished. Positive changes at least in one domain of PTG stated 107 respondents (91%). Most respondents (35, i.e. 30%) experienced PTG in three domains: interpersonal relations (29%), changes in value system (25%) and self perception and self-actualization (20%). Generally, more positive than negative aspects were specified by 74% of respondents (number of variants 103, Z=4.73, p<0.5). The results of the quantitative data analysis suggest that rather than sociodemographic conditions or objective seriousness of illness as assessed by doctors, more important role in PTG development is played by personality characteristics of a specific person (optimism, character strengths), their coping strategies (especially benefit-finding strategy), subjective assessment of seriousness of an experienced situation and the extent of perceived social support.