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Behavioral Sciences
Special Issues
Posttraumatic Growth and Illusory Growth: Theory and Practice
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Posttraumatic Growth and Illusory Growth: Theory and Practice

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2018) | Viewed by 16385

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Kanako Taku

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA
Interests: posttraumatic growth; resiliency; culture; personality; development; psycho-educational intervention

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

More than twenty years have passed since the phenomenon of PTG (Posttraumatic growth) appeared in the literature in the 1990s. Earlier studies focused on describing this phenomenon across different populations. As studies have revealed its predictors, moderators, and outcomes, they have identified potential limitations such as relying on self-report to assess PTG. A number of researchers have pointed out the importance of not assuming that all PTG reports are authentic; however, only a few studies have offered methods to distinguish PTG from illusory growth. This Special Issue will explore a variety of ideas to separate them, aiming to refine or build on theory applicable to practice. This issue will include articles that draw on a wide range of theoretical and methodological perspectives contributing to our understanding of the differences between PTG and illusory growth.  Articles appropriate for this issue include conceptual articles, theoretical critiques, literature reviews, and empirical studies using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method approaches. Topics may include, but are not limited to, resiliency, behavioural changes, memory, and personality development. Contributions should focus on generating ideas to distinguish PTG from illusory growth.

Prof. Dr. Kanako Taku
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Posttraumatic growth
  • Resiliency
  • Stress-related growth
  • Benefit finding
  • Personality
  • Wisdom
  • Narrative
  • Well-being
  • Memory
  • Development
  • Beliefs

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 209 KiB  
Article
Perceptions of Change after a Trauma and Perceived Posttraumatic Growth: A Prospective Examination
by Adriel Boals, Lee A. Bedford and Jennifer L. Callahan
Behav. Sci. 2019, 9(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs9010010 - 15 Jan 2019
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6108
Abstract
Recent research has distinguished between actual posttraumatic growth (PTG) and perceived PTG. We used a prospective research design to measure both actual and perceived PTG in an attempt to replicate and extend previous findings. We examined college students (N = 64) who [...] Read more.
Recent research has distinguished between actual posttraumatic growth (PTG) and perceived PTG. We used a prospective research design to measure both actual and perceived PTG in an attempt to replicate and extend previous findings. We examined college students (N = 64) who experienced a traumatic event between the start (Time 1) and end (Time 2) of a semester. We included three measures of change from pre- to post-trauma: (1) Actual PTG (change scores in measures of PTG domains), (2) perceived general growth (Time 2 ratings of functioning at Time 1 subtracted from actual ratings given at Time 1), and (3) perceived PTG (self-reports of PTG on the posttraumatic growth inventory). The results revealed perceived general growth and actual PTG were significantly correlated, suggesting that participants’ perceptions of change were accurate. However, perceived PTG was not significantly related to either actual PTG or perceived general growth. Further, increases in actual PTG and perceived general growth were significantly related to decreases in distress and unrelated to coping. By contrast, higher levels of perceived PTG were significantly related to increases in distress and higher levels of avoidance coping. Our results suggest perceived PTG may be more of a coping process than an accurate recall of posttraumatic change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Posttraumatic Growth and Illusory Growth: Theory and Practice)
14 pages, 233 KiB  
Article
Testing the Validity of Self-Reported Posttraumatic Growth in Young Adult Cancer Survivors
by Crystal L. Park and Sinead M. Sinnott
Behav. Sci. 2018, 8(12), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs8120116 - 15 Dec 2018
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4323
Abstract
Posttraumatic growth has garnered increasing interest as a potential positive consequence of traumatic events and illnesses. However, scientific investigations have yet to demonstrate the validity of self-reports of posttraumatic growth. The most common measure used to assess this construct is the Post Traumatic [...] Read more.
Posttraumatic growth has garnered increasing interest as a potential positive consequence of traumatic events and illnesses. However, scientific investigations have yet to demonstrate the validity of self-reports of posttraumatic growth. The most common measure used to assess this construct is the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI); however, the extent to which the PTGI (as well as other self-report measures of perceived posttraumatic growth; PPTG) assess actual positive change remains unknown. The present study aimed to examine the validity of PPTG measures. We assessed 83 adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors at two time points, one year apart. We measured the stability of PTGI from T1 to T2, correlated three measures of PPTG that used different methods (only positive, positive or negative, positive and negative change) with wellbeing measures, and compared PTGI scores with changes in psychosocial resources. PTGI scores were stable over time. More nuanced measures of PPTG appeared to capture more perceived change, although no measure of PPTG was favorably related to wellbeing. Finally, PTGI did not correlate with change in psychosocial resources, with the exception of spirituality. Overall, our results suggest that measures of PPTG do not capture actual positive changes experienced by AYA cancer survivors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Posttraumatic Growth and Illusory Growth: Theory and Practice)

Other

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10 pages, 215 KiB  
Concept Paper
Mining for Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) in Sexual Minority Women Who Survive Intimate Partner Violence: A Conceptual Perspective
by Elisabeth Counselman-Carpenter and Alex Redcay
Behav. Sci. 2018, 8(9), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs8090077 - 28 Aug 2018
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5343
Abstract
This theoretical paper explores the need to use posttraumatic growth (PTG) as a framework when studying sexual minority women (SMW) who are survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) to examine the relationship between risk factors such as stress, anxiety and alcohol use and [...] Read more.
This theoretical paper explores the need to use posttraumatic growth (PTG) as a framework when studying sexual minority women (SMW) who are survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) to examine the relationship between risk factors such as stress, anxiety and alcohol use and to understand the role of protective factors through mining for the presence of posttraumatic growth (PTG). Despite a call for continued research in this highly vulnerable population, representative studies of SMW and PTG remain extremely limited. Research that examines the relationship between IPV, behavioral health issues, and posttraumatic growth would provide the opportunity to develop tailored intervention models and opportunities for program development to decrease isolation and increase factors of posttraumatic growth. In particular, the impact of how interpersonal relationships as potential mediators and/or outcomes of posttraumatic growth (PTG) needs to be explored more thoroughly. PTG is a valuable framework for vulnerable populations such as sexual minority women because it focuses on how transformative change may result from traumatic experiences such as surviving IPV. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Posttraumatic Growth and Illusory Growth: Theory and Practice)
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