TY - JOUR
T1 - Posttraumatic growth among American former prisoners of war
AU - Erbes, Christopher
AU - Eberly, Raina
AU - Dikel, Thomas
AU - Johnsen, Erica
AU - Harris, Irene
AU - Engdahl, Brian
PY - 2005/1/1
Y1 - 2005/1/1
N2 - Posttraumatic growth was assessed in a community sample of 95 former prisoners of war studied over a 12 year period. Developmental history, personality, social support, and PTSD measures from two earlier time points were used to predict current scores on the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). We hypothesized positive predictive relationships between PTGI indices and trauma exposure (and corresponding distress levels), positive affect, and social support. Positive Affectivity, Constraint, and two Social Support measures followed a pattern of significant and near-significant positive correlations with PTGI total score, Relationships with Others, and Spiritual Change, suggesting multidirectional relationships among these variables. POW trauma exposure correlated with Perceived Strength. Regression analyses significantly predicted PTGI total score, Improved Relationships, and Spiritual Change. The results both lend support to and raise questions about the construct validity of the PTGI.
AB - Posttraumatic growth was assessed in a community sample of 95 former prisoners of war studied over a 12 year period. Developmental history, personality, social support, and PTSD measures from two earlier time points were used to predict current scores on the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). We hypothesized positive predictive relationships between PTGI indices and trauma exposure (and corresponding distress levels), positive affect, and social support. Positive Affectivity, Constraint, and two Social Support measures followed a pattern of significant and near-significant positive correlations with PTGI total score, Relationships with Others, and Spiritual Change, suggesting multidirectional relationships among these variables. POW trauma exposure correlated with Perceived Strength. Regression analyses significantly predicted PTGI total score, Improved Relationships, and Spiritual Change. The results both lend support to and raise questions about the construct validity of the PTGI.
KW - American POWs
KW - Posttraumatic growth inventory (PTGI)
KW - Posttraumatic stress disorder
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=41149158602&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=41149158602&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/153476560501100407
DO - 10.1177/153476560501100407
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:41149158602
SN - 1534-7656
VL - 11
SP - 285
EP - 295
JO - Traumatology
JF - Traumatology
IS - 4
ER -