Exploring Posttraumatic Growth in Children Impacted by Hurricane Katrina: Correlates of the Phenomenon and Developmental Considerations

Abstract

This study explored posttraumatic growth (PTG), positive change resulting from struggling with trauma, among 7- to 10-year-olds impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Analyses focused on child self-system functioning and cognitive processes, and the caregiving context, in predicting PTG at two time points. Findings suggest that rumination, both negative, distressing thoughts and constructive, repetitive thinking, plays an important role in PTG. Hypotheses regarding future expectations and perceived competence were not fully supported, and, unexpectedly, coping competency beliefs, realistic control attributions, and perceived caregiver warmth did not contribute to PTG models. With one exception (positive reframing coping advice), caregiver–reported variables did not relate to PTG; no caregiver variable reached significance in final models. Relevant theory, developmental considerations, and future directions are discussed.

Parental Experiences of Supporting Children with Clinically Significant Post-Traumatic Distress: a Qualitative Study of Families Accessing Psychological Services

“…Parents also sought to address children's potentially maladaptive appraisals of blame and promoted a positive perspective of the event. As maladaptive cognitions contribute to the continuation of child PTSD symptoms (Meiser-Stedman et al 2009;Meiser-Stedman et al 2007), such positive reframing coping advice may support functional reappraisals in children by rectifying misinterpretations of the trauma, thus leading to more adaptive coping following a traumatic event (Kassam-Adams and Fein 2003;Kilmer and Gil-Rivas 2010;Salmon and Bryant 2002).…”

Adding Trauma-Informed Care at a Bereavement Camp to Facilitate Posttraumatic Growth: A Controlled Outcome Study

“…Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms have been shown to be significantly associated with PTG in several studies (Devine, Reed-Knight, Loiselle, Fenton, & Blount, 2010;Hafstad, Kilmer, & Gil-Rivas, 2011;Jia et al, 2015), with research suggesting that it may play a catalytic role in the posttraumatic growth process among youth (Kilmer & Gil-Rivas, 2010;Kilmer et al, 2009). Zebrack et al (2015), in their work with adolescent cancer survivors, found that PTG is not only related to PTSD, but is potentially predicated upon experiencing or re-experiencing some degree of distress.…”

“…There are also other variables that were not addressed in this study. Social support plays an important role in grief resolution among children (Sveen, Eilegard, Steineck, & Kreicbergs, 2014), but current studies on its impact on PTG are inconclusive (Kilmer & Gil-Rivas, 2010;Yu et al, 2010). Future research may want to explore how social supports impact posttraumatic growth.…”

“…Although there has been a growing body of literature on PTG among youth following various events such as hurricanes (Kilmer & Gil-Rivas, 2010), natural disasters (Cryder, Kilmer, Tedeschi, & Calhoun, 2006), earthquakes (Jia, et al, 2015), terrorism (Laufer & Solomon, 2006), and illness (Arpawong et al, 2013), few studies address posttraumatic growth among bereaved children and adolescents. PTG among bereaved youth may manifest as increased caring for and stronger bonds with loved ones and friends (Oltjenbruns, 1991), gratitude, and an appreciation for life (Brewer & Sparkes, 2011).…”

“…However, data have also consistently presented the potential for positive change following a struggle with trauma, also known as posttraumatic growth, or PTG (Kilmer, 2006;Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1995). This construct helps researchers investigate the transformative effects of distress and has been documented in youth following various traumas: illness, earthquakes, hurricanes, terrorism, and death of a loved one (Arpawong, Oland, Milam, Ruccione, & Meeske, 2013;Jia, Ying, Zhou, Wu, & Lin, 2015;Kilmer & Gil-Rivas, 2010;Laufer & Solomon, 2006;Lin et al, 2014). With the negative effects on children who have experienced loss, the ability to recognize, and possibly even encourage posttraumatic growth through trauma-informed care is imperative (Kilmer et al, 2014;Steele & Kuban, 2011).…”