Assessing the validity of self-reported stress-related growth.

Abstract

The purpose of these studies was to assess the validity of self-reported stress-related growth (SRG). In Study 1, individuals with breast cancer (n ϭ 70) generally did not report greater well-being than a matched comparison group (n ϭ 70). In Study 2, there were no significant differences in well-being between undergraduate students who said that something positive had come out of their worst stressor (n ϭ 34) and those who reported no positives (n ϭ 34). In Study 3, specific domains of SRG assessed in undergraduate students (n ϭ 96) generally were not uniquely related to corresponding well-being measures. Thus, the authors found fairly little evidence for the validity of self-reported SRG. Future research directions are highlighted.

Growth Following Trauma: Overview and Current Status

“…As a result, Frazier and Kaler (2006) reported that they found fairly little evidence to validate self-reported growth. Helgeson (2010) also reported little validity when disease-free long-term (10 year) breast cancer survivors' growth reports were compared with their significant others' responses.…”

“…Because this series of possibilities was raised, several researchers (e.g., Frazier & Kaler, 2006;Helgeson, 2010) have attempted to corroborate self-reported growth in many different ways. As a result, Frazier and Kaler (2006) reported that they found fairly little evidence to validate self-reported growth.…”

“…Although the above-mentioned researchers (Frazier & Kaler, 2006;Helgeson, 2010) conducted clever studies, they were not prospective and also did not directly differentiate actual and reported growth.…”

A Theory on Reports of Constructive (Real) and Illusory Posttraumatic Growth

“…Cheng et al, 2006;Davis & McKearney, 2003;Frazier et al, 2009;Frazier & Kaler, 2006;Hall, Hobfoll, Canetti, Johnson & Galea, 2009;Hobfoll et al, 2007;McFarland & Buehler, 2012;McFarland & Alvaro, 2000;Wortman, 2004;Yanez, Stanton, Hoyt, Tennen & Lechner, 2011;Zoellner & Maercker, 2006). Most of these researchers do not question the existence of posttraumatic growth but the validity of selfreported posttraumatic growth.…”

Psychometric Properties of the Portuguese Version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory Short Form Among Divorced Adults

“…In the psychology literature, positive psychological changes triggered by facing challenging adverse life events are referred to as posttraumatic growth (PTG; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004). Equally termed as stressrelated growth, perceived benefits, or adversarial growth (Linley & Joseph, 2004), PTG describes the acquisition of more complex coping skills, the development of new perspectives about the self and the world, the improvement of interpersonal relationships, a greater sense of appreciation of life, and changes in life goals as contingent results of the struggle with the aftermath of the stressor (Frazier & Kaler, 2006;Tedeschi, Calhoun, & Cann, 2007). PTG outcomes have been reported in individuals who have experienced a broad range of stressful events, such as cancer (Brunet, McDonough, Hadd, Crocker, & Sabiston, 2010), bereavement (Engelkemeyer & Marwit, 2008), war experience (Kaler et al, 2011), chronic illness (Tran, Wiebe, Fortenberry, Butler, & Berg, 2011), dissolution of romantic relationships (Ty Tashiro & Frazier, 2003), and coming out to others as a sexual minority (Vaughan & Waehler, 2010).…”