The Core Beliefs Inventory: a brief measure of disruption in the assumptive world

Abstract

Stressful events that disrupt the assumptive world can force people to make cognitive changes to accommodate these highly stressful experiences. As fundamental assumptions are reestablished, many people report changes and experiences that reflect posttraumatic growth (PTG). The present research describes the development of the Core Beliefs Inventory (CBI), a brief measure of disruption of the assumptive world developed for use in applied research and clinical settings. Three studies, two using college samples (Study 1, n=181 and Study 2, n=297 time 1; 85 time 2) and the third using leukemia patients (Study 3, n=70 time 1; 43 time 2), assessed the utility of the CBI to predict PTG in both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs. Relationships between the CBI and measures of self-reported PTG and well-being indicate that the CBI has construct validity, acceptable test-retest reliability, and very good internal consistency. The CBI may be a useful tool in investigating predictions about the effects of stressful experiences on an individual's assumptive world, PTG, and successful adaptation.

Positive Outcomes Following Bereavement: Paths to Posttraumatic Growth

“…CBI scores also were positively related to the level of distress experienced at the time of the event and to symptoms of posttraumatic stress. However, a global measure of distress was not predictive of later posttraumatic growth when CBI scores were included in the prediction models (Cann et al, 2010).…”

“…Scores on the CBI have consistently been shown to be predictive of levels of posttraumatic growth, both in analyses of cross-sectional and of longitudinal data, involving a variety of stressful events; greater disruption is associated with greater growth (Cann et al, 2010). CBI scores also were positively related to the level of distress experienced at the time of the event and to symptoms of posttraumatic stress.…”

Growth Following Trauma: Overview and Current Status

“…For example, Triplett et al (2012) tested paths of growth in which disruptions in core beliefs are the departure point for reported growth, and examined how different kinds of rumination can play roles in this process. They found that in college students, disruptions in core beliefs as assessed by the Core Beliefs Inventory (CBI; Cann et al, 2010) were significantly related to both intrusive and deliberate ruminations, but only deliberate rumination was associated with reported growth. They interpreted these results as supporting the model of growthproposed by Tedeschi and Calhoun (1996) and Calhoun and his colleagues (2010).…”

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress among parents struggling with their child’s cancer – the role of negative cognitions and disruption in core beliefs

“…Moreover, as Cann et al [16] show, the tendency to revise beliefs may lead to occurrence of positive posttraumatic changes expressed in the form of posttraumatic growth.…”