Post-Traumatic Growth

Trauma can make us stronger, Better Humans

The Resilient Warrior study focused on resiliency and coping positively with combat stress exposure (CSE). In my research with Marines I assumed that negative psychological symptomatology could coexist with positive coping with CSE; this assumption was based on Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) theory research (Rieck, Shakespeare-Finch, Morris, & Newberry, 2005). Post-Traumatic Growth theory purports that positive change or growth can result from adverse circumstances or traumatic events (Linely & Joseph, 2004). Post-Traumatic Growth studies have been conducted with various populations such as victims of rape, disasters, and diseases (Joseph, Linely, & Harris, 2005). More recently, PTG studies have been conducted with war veterans.

Pietrzak et al. (2010) conducted one of the first PTG studies with combat veterans from OEF/OIF. In a survey of 272 Connecticut National Guardsmen who served in OEF/OIF since 2003, 72% when assessed using the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory responded with great to very great growth based on their combat experience.  This study revealed that being exposed to combat stress or being in war can have positive personal growth outcomes.

For a comprehensive study of PTG check out "The Handbook of Posttraumatic Growth" by Dr. Lawrence Calhoun and Richard Tedeschi. Check out their website at Posttraumatic Growth Research Group. 

References

Calhoun, L. G., & Tedeschi, R. G. (2006). The Handbook of Posttraumatic Growth. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc., Publishers.

Joseph, S., Linely, P. A., & Harris, G. J. (2005). Understanding positive change following trauma and adversity: Structural clarification. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 10, 83-96.

Linley, P. A., & Joseph, S. (2004). Positive change following trauma and adversity: A review. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 17(1), 11-21. 

Pietrzak, R. H., Goldstein, M. B., Malley, J. C., Rivers, A. J., Johnson, D. C., Morgan, C. A., III, & Southwick, S. M. (2010). Posttraumatic growth in veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Journal of Affective Disorders, 126(1), 230-235.

Rieck, M., Shakespeare-Finch, J., Morris, B., & Newberry, J. (2005). A mixed-method analysis of posttrauma outcomes: Trauma severity and social support from a psychotherapeutic perspective. Canadian Journal of Counseling, 39(2), 86- 100.