Quantitative Assessment of Thriving

Abstract

These scales are designed to assess perceived bene$ts that result from a spec@ stressox Research with the SRGS suggests a unidimensional structure of thriving, whereas research with the PTGI suggests a multidimensional structure. Two possible reasons for this inconsistentfinding concern diflerences in the method ofparticipant selection and in the recall period for the reporting of stressful events. In addition, we present a number of strategies to validate self-report measures of thriving, including corroboration from sign$cant others and the use of control groups. We conclude with a brief discussion of the assessment of thriving at the group and community levels.As the articles in this issue illustrate, the conceptualization of thriving is not yet consensual, nor clearly explicated, and theory on thriving is in its infancy. It is not surprising, therefore, that quantitative research on thriving is scarce and unsophisticated, to date. The purpose of this article is to review issues related to the quantitative assessment of thriving. We discuss general conceptual and methodological problems, and then present specific measurement strategies and research findings. Most of the article focuses on thriving at the individual level, although at the end we briefly consider thriving at the group and community levels. The focus is on methodological issues in the quantitative assessment of thriving, and therefore we do not document the extent of thriving reported in the empirical literature. Our research group has developed a measure of individual thriving, the Stress-Related Growth

The role of social cognitive processing theory and optimism in positive psychosocial and physical behavior change after cancer diagnosis and treatment

“…Rather, respondents appeared to discriminate among specific behaviors, reporting change in some but not others, thus increasing our confidence in the veracity of participant reports. Future research will undoubtedly benefit from the use of control groups or observer reports of positive behavior change to further increase confidence in the validity of these reports [53]. Although significant agreement has been found between self and observer reports of post-traumatic growth in college students [55], these results require replication in the cancer setting.…”

“…Much has been written in non-cancer contexts about cognitive bias in reports of optimism and post-traumatic growth (e.g. [53,54]). Specifically, concerns have focused on the potential for exaggerated reports of positive change (e.g.…”

Resilience of Community‐Dwelling Older Persons

“…Participants with a recent event were excluded to ensure that enough time had passed for them to have a stable response to the event. 11,12 Study participants were less likely to have few depressive symptoms than those who were excluded (77% vs 85%, P 5.026). There were no significant differences in the prevalence of the other demographic, clinical, functional, or psychosocial factors shown in Table 1.…”

“…9 Several measures of thrivingFa closely related concept representing a response to stress that leads to positive mental, physical, or social outcomesFhave been based on responses to a specific stressful event. [10][11][12] Whereas thriving (also called posttraumatic growth) is concerned exclusively with the positive results of stress, resilience considers the severity of negative effects and degree of recovery as well as new positive effects of the event.…”

Posttraumatic growth and PTSD symptomatology among colorectal cancer survivors: a 3‐month longitudinal examination of cognitive processing

“…A final focus of this study concerns the association between social desirability and PTG. Although reports of benefits or psychological growth from the cancer experience have been well documented, the veracity of these claims is occasionally questioned as researchers speculate about the potential for inflated claims of growth due to socially desirable responding [48]. It is plausible that some cancer patients or survivors believe that they should derive psychological growth from their experience and subsequently may report such growth regardless of a personal experience of positive change or benefit.…”