Post-Traumatic Growth Experiences among COVID-19 Confirmed Cases in China: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

COVID-19 infection can cause psychological distress and profoundly impact patients’ lives, but it can also lead to positive changes and post-traumatic growth (PTG), or positive psychological change in response to challenging life circumstances. Current research on the influence of COVID-19 infection has mainly focused on its negative effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with COVID-19 in China experienced PTG and, if so, what changed for them during the process of PTG. We used a qualitative descriptive approach to conduct this study. Using the purposive sampling recruitment method, patients with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis were recruited from a COVID-19 designated hospital in Shanghai, China, from April to July 2020. Data were collected using semi-structured, in-depth interviews conducted via cell phone or in person while social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Forty confirmed COVID-19 patients (19–68 years old) were recruited. Several prominent themes and subthemes were extracted from the interview responses regarding participants’ experiences of PTG. The following are among the positive changesthat occurred for these participants after their diagnosis of COVID-19: (1) Reevaluation of their life priorities, which included a greater appreciation of being alive and re-evaluating their values and goals, (2) Improved relationships within their social circles, which included establishing or maintaining closer relationships with family and friends and a greater willingness to help others, and (3) Perceived changes regarding themselves, which included personal growth and increased awareness of the importance of their health. The study identified potential positive impacts of COVID-19 on patients, which could be helpful in the implementation of interventions to facilitate PTG among COVID-19 survivors.

The Impact of Coping Skills in Post-traumatic Growth of Healthcare Providers: When Mental Health Is Deteriorating Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Upon closer investigation, Relating to Others was the highest scoring PTGI factor, with New Possibilities as second. As a tendency to find meaning in facing this life-threatening disease, healthcare providers seem to change their sense of relationship, resulting in building closer bond with their family members and friends and a willingness to help others, as noted in other studies ( Khanjani et al, 2017 ; Rzeszutek, 2017 ; Tamiolaki and Kalaitzaki, 2020 ; Sun et al, 2021 ) when social support became an important source in coping with challenging events.…”

Exploring posttraumatic growth after the COVID-19 pandemic

“…However, little attention has been paid to travel risk aversion, which is a positive way for tourists to deal with risks based on health and self-protection when facing the threat of disease ( Neuberg et al, 2011 ). Previous studies has shown that when facing the challenges of life-threatening diseases, the acquisition of an increased awareness of the importance of health or positive changes in health behaviors are all domains of people's PTG ( Sun et al, 2021 ; Tedeschi et al, 2018 ). During the COVID-19 pandemic, as a health protection factor, travel risk aversion not only enabled tourists to plan and arrange tourism activities more rationally but also was a factor in the well-being of society ( Cerami et al, 2021 ; Petrocchi et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Similar findings can be found in COVID-19 pandemic research. For example, the study of PTG experience of COVID-19 confirmed cases in China found that they were more willing to help others than before ( Sun et al, 2021 ). In view of the important role of altruistic behavior in enhancing individual social responsibility and improving people's social relationships ( Vollhardt & Staub, 2011 ), this study believes that altruistic behavior is the PTG experienced by tourists at the level of interpersonal relationships.…”

“…This study was conducted in China, which is regarded as a collectivist society that pays more attention to interdependence and interconnection than some other societies ( Triandis, 2001 ). As mentioned above, individuals with different social and cultural backgrounds will have new or specific growth aspects after fighting against the COVID-19 traumatic event ( Arnout & Al-Sufyani, 2021 ; Sun et al, 2021 ). Therefore, this research focuses on exploring the positive growth of tourists at personal, interpersonal, and social levels after experiencing the trauma of COVID-19, and it tests the factors that influenced tourists’ positive changes.…”

Managing life during the pandemic: communication strategies, mental health, and the ultimate toll of the COVID-19

“…The other research, examined PTG among the COVID-19 confirmed patients via using interview method, revealed that confirmed patients had reported PTG. Mainly three growth areas appeared: 1) Re-evaluating priorities such as reviewing their aims, values and being grateful for living; 2) developing deeper relationships in their social circle; 3) improvements in personal chance such as gaining maturity and having more awareness of the significance of health [85]. Further research on the general population (40% were healthcare workers) in April 2020 showed that whole participants reported moderate to low PTG and about 28% of the general population exhibited PTSD symptoms.…”