Vicarious posttraumatic growth: Predictors of growth and relationships with adjustment.

Abstract

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is now recognized as a possible outcome in the wake of trauma that has been experienced either directly or indirectly. With this in mind, the aims of the current study were threefold: to assess the applicability of Calhoun and Tedeschi’s (2006, 1996) five-factor model of PTG in relation to vicarious PTG; assess the factors that are predictive of vicarious PTG; and assess the extent to which vicarious PTG is able to predict adjustment. The sample comprised of 126 university students and general community members. The factor analysis revealed that a two-factor solution (personal growth and changes in worldview) best explained vicarious PTG. The regression analyses revealed that intrusion was a significant positive predictor of personal growth and that intrinsic religiosity, meaningfulness, and intrusion were significant positive predictors of changes in worldview. It was also found that changes in worldview predicted better adjustment while personal growth predicted poorer adjustment. Implications and future directions for research are discussed in light of the results obtained.

Prevalence and determinants of secondary posttraumatic growth following trauma work among medical personnel: a cross sectional study

“…Cohen and Collens ( 2013 ) indicate that higher occupational load promotes the occurrence of VPTG. These positive links between occupational load and SPTG are confirmed by research related primarily to therapists (Abel et al, 2014 ; Arnold et al, 2005 ; Brockhouse et al, 2011 ; Cohen & Collens, 2013 ; Froman, 2014 ). Positive though weak associations among years of practice and VPTG were found in labour and delivery nurses (Beck et al, 2016 ).…”

“…On the other hand, working with trauma victims may be a source of positive posttraumatic changes, which are referred to as secondary posttraumatic growth (SPTG) or vicarious posttraumatic growth (VPTG). VPTG is defined as the personal growth and meaning gained through another’s trauma (Abel, Walker, Samios, & Morozow, 2014 ). Just as in the case of posttraumatic growth (PTG) experienced by the victims of trauma, those positive changes appearing as a result of vicarious trauma relate to the perception of oneself, the relations with others, and one’s life philosophy (Arnold, Calhoun, Tedeschi, & Cann, 2005 ; Brockhouse, Msetfi, Cohen, & Joseph, 2011 ; Calhoun & Tedeschi, 2013 ; Manning-Jones, de Terte, & Stephens, 2015 , 2016 , 2017 ).…”

“That day no one spoke”: Florida Puerto Ricans’ Reaction to Hurricane María

“…In a qualitative study by McCormack, Hagger, and Joseph (2011), the partners of Vietnam veterans shared how secondary exposure to their partners’ combat trauma led to increased empathy and marital satisfaction. More recently, a quantitative investigation by Abel, Walker, Samios, Morozow, and Bride (2014), indicated that secondary exposure among college students was positively related with VPTG. The racial and ethnic homogeneity of the samples on both studies (White Europeans), highlight the need to research VPTG in diverse cultures.…”

“…For example, besides providing support, family and friends can also help the individual experiencing secondary exposure gain perspective or correct irrational thoughts associated with the natural disaster. Finding positive meaning in the disaster (Abel et al, 2014) and receiving support from family and friends (Manning-Jones et al, 2016) have been inversely associated with secondary traumatic stress and positively correlated with VPTG.…”

Negatywne i pozytywne skutki wtórnej ekspozycji na traumę wśród personelu medycznego - rola wsparcia społecznego

“…Praca z ofiarami traumy może być także źródłem występowania pozytywnych zmian potraumatycznych, ujmowanych w postaci wtórnego/zastępczego wzrostu po traumie (SPTG/VPTG, secondary/vicarious posttraumatic growth), który definiuje się jako zespół pozytywnych zmian mogących wystąpić u osób niosących pomoc -dzięki traumie doświadczonej przez ich podopiecznych [6,7]. Te pozytywne zmiany występujące w wyniku zastępczej traumatyzacji, podobnie jak w przypadku potraumatycznego wzrostu (PTG, posttraumatic growth) doświadczanego bezpośrednio, odnoszą się do percepcji siebie, relacji z innymi i filozofii życiowej [6,[8][9][10].…”