Search Results (251)

Background/Objectives: Given that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic growth (PTG) are separate constructs that can co-occur following adversity, we examined how prior adversity and current functioning difficulties may relate to the likelihood of meeting criteria for PTSD and scoring above the cutoff for PTG among individuals who reported being impacted by their prior adversity. Methods: Participants (n = 2112) in this international sample completed online measures assessing their adversity history, current functioning difficulties (i.e., negative world assumptions and autonomic reactivity), PTSD symptomatology, and PTG. Results: Chi square analyses suggested a trend toward an association between meeting criteria for PTSD and scoring above the cutoff for PTG, although not statistically significant (p = 0.061). Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that individuals most impacted by caregiver abuse and certain specific adversities (i.e., parent with a mental health problem, caregiver and non-caregiver sexual abuse, and being held captive) were more likely to meet the criteria for PTSD. Whereas those most impacted by life-threatening situations and the specific adversities of being impacted by a life-threatening illnesses or injury, were more likely to meet the criteria for PTG. However, the strongest predictor of the likelihood of PTSD was increased autonomic reactivity, and the strongest predictor of the likelihood of PTG was fewer negative world assumptions. Conclusions: Our research suggests the need to assess the perceived impact of adversity history, as well as the potential negative consequences of autonomic reactivity and negative world assumptions, as these may be associated with PTSD symptomatology and PTG. Full article

Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) play essential roles in the brain, influencing neuronal and dendritic growth, as well as neurotransmission. These effects persist throughout life. Numerous studies in animals and humans have demonstrated the beneficial effects of GH therapy on memory and cognitive function, as well as on the restoration of neuronal function following injury. All nerve cells, including neurons, glia, endothelial, epithelial, and perivascular cells, are affected by the actions of GH/IGF-1. IGF-1, in particular, has been associated with cognitive function. The GH-IGF-1 axis increases the proliferation of neuronal progenitor cells and the formation of new neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes. In this study, we searched databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase for human clinical trials evaluating the effect of growth hormone (GH) therapy on dementia, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), post-traumatic brain injury (PTI), and stroke. The following search terms were used: “GH and dementia,” “GH and Alzheimer’s disease,” “GH and TBI,” and “GH and stroke.” Inclusion criteria were all randomized controlled trials and observational studies. Exclusion criteria included the lack of cognitive and memory assessments. We found 28 articles. Most studies show the beneficial effects of GH therapy on memory and recovery of brain function after traumatic injury and stroke; however, consistent data are still lacking. The limited number of clinical trials, the small number of patients, and the lack of data on plasma levels of sex hormones that clearly contribute to brain function are limiting factors. This is the case, for example, with androgens. Other critical factors are dosage and treatment duration. Prolonged administration and supraphysiological doses are more effective in inducing positive clinical changes. Growth hormone (GH) therapy is a very promising intervention for preventing and treating dementia and early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, and it contributes significantly to the recovery of brain function in patients after traumatic injury and stroke. Further studies with more robust methodologies are needed to confirm these results. Full article

Background/Objectives: Psychological resilience is associated with improved quality of life after stroke, yet less is known about how resilience and mindfulness interact over time in long-term recovery. This qualitative instrumental case study aimed to describe how psychological resilience and mindfulness unfolded in one stroke survivor with high psychological resilience and to identify processes that may inform future research on long-term stroke rehabilitation. Method: We conducted an instrumental qualitative case study involving a stroke survivor and his spouse (carepartner), using an in-depth interview framework for data collection and grounded theory procedures to support analysis. Data sources included interview transcripts and contextual artifacts, such as personal and professional websites, emails, and informal conversations. Findings: Three interrelated themes described how resilience unfolded in this case: (a) antecedents to poststroke resilience: personality traits, values, behavioral modeling, and environmental factors; (b) the obstacle is the way to posttraumatic growth; and (c) poststroke resilience: mindfulness embodied. Together, these themes suggest how prestroke strengths, responses to adversity, and mindfulness practice interacted in this participant’s long-term recovery. Conclusions: This exploratory case study offers a detailed account of how resilience and mindfulness may interact after stroke in one highly resilient individual. The findings are hypothesis-generating and may help guide future research on mindfulness-based and holistic approaches to long-term stroke recovery in larger and more diverse populations. Full article

Background: Despite the growing literature demonstrating the psychological impact of a NICU admission on parents, the longer-term adjustment to a NICU experience following an infant’s discharge is largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the NICU experience and the psychosocial trajectories of NICU graduate families after discharge. Methods: Using a qualitative design, a select group of mothers participated in qualitative interviews after completion of a quantitative survey. Interviews were completed online over a secure video platform. Participants (n = 21) included three groups of mothers of NICU graduates aged 2–24. Interviews ranged from 45 to 90 min, depending on the number of NICU children. The NICU care experience was explored as well as the impact of the NICU experience on parental coping, relationships, overprotective parenting, and post-traumatic growth. Results: Participants reflected on their NICU care experience and offered concrete suggestions for improvements in care. Short-term symptoms of psychological distress immediately following the NICU admission were described; however, psychological adjustment and parenting issues resulting from a NICU experience appeared to be long-term. Common themes included: (a) Effect on the Family, (b) Grief and Loss, (c) Post-Traumatic Growth, and (d) Goals for Intervention. Conclusions: These findings expand our understanding of the complexity of the NICU family experience, demonstrate the prolonged effects of a NICU admission on the family over time, and offer areas for improvement in care across the continuum. Full article

Men who have used violence against intimate partners remain an under-researched population, despite their potential to advance understanding of motivations and relational dynamics underlying such behavior. This study employed semi-structured interviews and interpretative phenomenological analysis to examine the lived experiences of five adult men with histories of partner violence. A superordinate theme, Chaotic Interpersonal and Systemic Relationships, encompassed five experiential themes describing volatile partnerships shaped by mutual vulnerabilities. Participants commonly reported trauma histories and/or antisocial traits influencing partner selection, with abuse experienced as bidirectional. Disillusionment emerged when participants perceived that the mutual nature of violence was unacknowledged, limiting their engagement in meaningful change. Although behavior change programs were often understood at a conceptual level, participants struggled to translate insight into sustained behavioral transformation. Consistent with post-traumatic growth theory, participants described developing greater personal responsibility and more constructive views of relationships over time. Greater systemic recognition of bidirectional violence, identified in the literature as a prevalent form of intimate partner violence, may strengthen the therapeutic alliance and support more nuanced etiological inquiry. Shifting systemic responses from deficit-based, gendered models toward strength-based approaches may better harness men’s capacity for more permanent positive psychological and behavioral change. Full article

Background/Objectives: Intimate partner abuse (IPA) is common among university students, including nursing students, and is linked to posttraumatic stress symptoms. Accessible online psychosocial interventions are needed to reduce trauma-related symptoms and support posttraumatic growth (PTG). This study examined the effects of an online psychosocial intervention grounded in social learning theory and cognitive behavioral therapy on posttraumatic stress symptoms and PTG among nursing students who experienced IPA in Türkiye. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted among nursing students in Türkiye reporting IPA exposure. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 17) or a control group (n = 18). The intervention group received an eight-session online psychosocial program delivered individually. Assessments were conducted at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used, and partial eta-squared (ηp²) values were calculated. Results: The intervention group showed significant reductions in posttraumatic stress symptoms compared with the control group, with large effect sizes (p < 0.001; ηp² = 0.402–0.676). Furthermore, significant increases were observed in posttraumatic growth, indicating large and sustained effects over time (p < 0.001; ηp² = 0.515–0.773). Conclusions: The online psychosocial intervention effectively reduced posttraumatic stress symptoms and enhanced posttraumatic growth among nursing students who experienced IPA. However, results should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size, and future studies with larger samples are warranted. Full article

Losing a sibling to a drug-related death can lead not only to profound grief but also to unexpected psychological growth. This mixed-method study examined such growth among siblings bereaved by a drug-related death in Norway, combining survey data from 78 participants with interviews from ten siblings. Quantitative findings showed that appreciation of life and personal strengths were the most prominent domains of growth. Regression analysis indicated that self-efficacy explained most of the variance in growth when controlling for time since death, whereas social support did not make a unique contribution. Qualitative findings added depth by revealing how growth was experienced through closer family relationships and a heightened sense of empathy toward people in vulnerable situations. These accounts suggest that growth may involve a reorientation of values and deeper relational ties, aspects that standardized measures may not fully capture. Although based on a small and relatively homogeneous sample, the integrated results point to the importance of internal coping resources and family connectedness in fostering growth after a stigmatized loss. Further research should explore these mechanisms in more diverse populations and examine how they evolve over time. Full article

A recent study of World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees found that about one- third experienced post-traumatic growth (PTG) in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and that PTG was associated with social support and social integration. However, the implications of PTG for the enrollees’ overall quality of life are unknown. The present study investigated the prevalence of PTG and its association with the SF-12 physical and mental function quality of life scales in a sample of 2786 enrollees from the Registry’s Health and Quality of Life Study (HQoL) who completed the first four surveys, were older than 18 on 9/11, reported English as their primary spoken language, and provided consistent self-report of 9/11 physical injury at the Registry’s baseline and HQoL surveys. We employed multivariable linear regression to evaluate the association between PTG and the SF-12 physical and mental scales, controlling for sex, age, race, education, income, employment, social support, threatening events, post-9/11 mental health, number of post-9/11 physical health conditions, and drug/alcohol misuse. We found that 31% of the sample enrollees experienced PTG and that PTG exhibited a clinically and statistically significant association with the SF-12 mental scale but not the physical scale (physical: β = −0.01 (−0.61, 0.65), mental: β = 3.92 (2.89, 4.95)). Those who were physically injured during 9/11 showed larger improvements in mental function than those who were not. PTG has implications for the overall mental quality of life that should be further investigated. Full article

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental disorder characterized by a wide range of symptoms and a substantial contribution to global disease burden. Our study aimed to examine the relationships between childhood trauma, sleep quality, dissociative symptoms, posttraumatic growth, and suicidality in patients diagnosed with MDD. Methods: Our sample consisted of 115 patients with MDD and 84 healthy controls. Participants were administered the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-33), Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Group differences were analyzed, and associations among variables within the MDD group were examined using correlation and mediation analyses. Results: Compared to healthy controls, patients with MDD had significantly higher scores on all scales except the PTGI (p < 0.001 for each). Within the MDD group, individuals with a history of suicide attempts had significantly higher CTQ total scores, physical and sexual abuse subscale scores, and DES scores than those without previous attempts. Additionally, dissociative experiences had a partial mediating role in the relationship between depression severity and suicidal ideation, as well as in the relationship between childhood traumas and sleep quality. Conclusions: The findings highlight the clinical relevance of dissociative experiences and sleep disturbances in the heterogeneous presentation of MDD and their association with illness severity and suicidality. In the follow-up and treatment process of patients with MDD, risk and protective factors should be evaluated together, and individualized treatment programs should be targeted. Full article

Public health emergencies can trigger posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in adolescents. However, few studies have explored the distinct and common processes of these outcomes in adolescents from the perspective of social support during public health emergencies, and whether the mechanisms underlying these phenomena are unique or shared remains unclear. This study examined how social support relates to PTSD and PTG, with empathy, positive coping, and negative coping as mediators. A cross-sectional study using self-report questionnaires collected data from 921 Chinese junior middle school students. The results showed that social support was directly negatively associated with PTSD and positively associated with PTG. Social support was negatively associated with PTSD via positive coping styles (PCSs), negative coping styles (NCSs), and through a two-step path from empathy to PCSs. Social support was negatively associated with PTG via NCSs, and positively associated with PTG via empathy, PCSs, and through a two-step path from empathy to PCSs. Findings suggest partly distinct pathways linking social support to PTSD and PTG: empathy was related to PTG but not PTSD, PCSs functioned as a shared pathway, and NCSs showed a double-edged pattern. Parents and teachers should foster adolescents’ empathy and PCSs to promote healthy psychological development after public health emergencies. Full article

Although recovery capital and psychological flexibility have each been associated with substance use recovery, their combined role in fostering posttraumatic growth remains unclear. This study integrates recovery capital theory with psychological flexibility and posttraumatic growth frameworks to test a theory-driven model of adaptive recovery processes. The study sought to (1) examine whether recovery capital or abstinence predicts posttraumatic growth, (2) assess whether recovery capital or abstinence status predicts psychological flexibility, and (3) test whether psychological flexibility statistically mediates the relationship between recovery and posttraumatic growth. A national sample of 244 adults in recovery from substance use disorder completed the Assessment of Recovery Capital, the Personalized Psychological Flexibility Index, and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory—Expanded. Multiple linear regressions addressed the first two aims. For Aim 3, the mediation model was tested using the SPSS PROCESS macro (version 4.0) with 5000 bootstrap resamples. Recovery capital significantly predicted both posttraumatic growth and psychological flexibility. Abstinence status did not predict posttraumatic or psychological flexibility. Psychological flexibility partially mediated the association between recovery capital and posttraumatic growth. Psychological flexibility may be a key mechanism by which recovery capital fosters posttraumatic growth, supporting interventions that enhance both resources beyond abstinence alone. Full article

It is undeniable that COVID-19 has impacted all aspects of college student and family life. However, the posttraumatic growth (PTG) framework suggests there are opportunities for growth after traumatic or highly stressful events. To explore PTG in college students during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study recruited parents of college students (N = 1655) from across the U.S. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that when parents reported that their student experienced more positive impacts of COVID-19 on their relationships and health, received more career support, and when parents reported that their own well-being improved, they were more likely to report that their student experienced PTG. Additionally, parent gender, student first-generation status, and student year in school were also associated with PTG. This is consistent with past research; when parents were well supported during the pandemic, their college students did better and were more likely to uphold academic and graduation plans. Findings underscore the important role of both university resources such as career support, and family resources such as parental well-being in buffering the negative effects of the pandemic and supporting PTG. Full article

Background: Crohn’s disease has a pattern of recurrent remissions and flare-ups which makes patients experience psychological complications; however, few studies have been conducted to identify intra-personal factors associated with health-related quality of life in individuals with Crohn’s disease. This study aimed to explore how disease activity, coping, and post-traumatic growth were associated with health-related quality of life in patients with Crohn’s disease. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using self-reported questionnaires. Of the 227 adult patients recruited from a Crohn’s disease online support group in Korea, 219 were included in the final analysis. Measurements included the Harvey–Bradshaw Simple Index, the Korean version of the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, the Korean version of the Coping and Adaptation Processing Scale Short-Form, and the Korean version of the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression. Results: The mean score of health-related quality of life was 4.10 out of 7 points, and the subdomain of emotional health showed the lowest score. Most participants were classified as having mild disease activity. The multiple regression analysis revealed that disease activity was significantly associated with health-related quality of life, which accounted for 31.2% of the total variance. Coping and PTG were not significantly associated with health-related quality of life. Conclusions: Disease activity was a significant factor associated with the health-related quality of life of Crohn’s disease patients. It is important to control the disease activity level in Crohn’s disease patients through self-management strategies. Maintaining a low stage of disease activity can be a crucial component of nursing care plans for enhancing health-related quality of life in individuals with Crohn’s disease. Full article

Background/Objectives: Traumatic experiences may lead to both negative and positive outcomes. Positive psychological changes following trauma are commonly referred to as posttraumatic growth (PTG). The present study aims to examine factors associated with posttraumatic growth among Syrian refugees who have been living in Turkey for an extended period. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a sample of 240 Syrian refugees. Participants completed the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Path analysis was conducted to examine the effects of PTSD symptoms and mindfulness levels on posttraumatic growth. In addition, Multivariate Adaptive Regression Spline (MARS) analysis was used to identify threshold values for the contributions of these variables to posttraumatic growth. Results: The mean age of the participants was 36.9 ± 10.4 years, and 47% were female. The direct effect of PTSD symptoms on posttraumatic growth was negative and statistically significant (β = −0.291, p < 0.001). PTSD symptoms also had an indirect effect on posttraumatic growth through mindfulness (β = −0.254), resulting in a total effect of −0.545. According to the MARS model, when MAAS scores exceeded 78, mindfulness demonstrated a positive effect on posttraumatic growth. Conclusions: The findings indicate that PTSD symptoms among refugees are associated with posttraumatic growth through both direct and indirect pathways. Furthermore, mindfulness emerges as a key factor in understanding the development of posttraumatic growth in this population. Full article

Background and Objectives: Public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly impact individuals and families, particularly in educational settings. School closures and changes in daily routines reduced students’ opportunities for learning and social interaction, affecting their mental health. Caregivers also faced increased responsibilities and stressors. This study aimed to evaluate a predictive model of mental health outcomes—specifically posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) and posttraumatic growth (PTG)—in Chilean schoolchildren and their caregivers. Materials and Methods: A total of 489 students (48% female sex; aged 10–17) from educational communities in various Chilean cities participated in the study, along with their caregivers (aged 21–69; 86.5% female), including mothers, fathers, and guardians. Mental health variables were assessed through self-report instruments. Hierarchical linear regression and path analyses were used to evaluate predictive models for PTSSs and PTG in students. Results: The model predicting PTSSs in students was significant. Key predictors included female sex, aggressive behavior, coping strategies such as keeping problems to oneself, cognitive avoidance, and intrusive rumination, and caregiver PTSSs. The model for PTG was also significant, with predictors including active problem-solving, communication, a positive attitude, and deliberate rumination. These results indicate distinct psychological processes underlying negative and positive outcomes following trauma. Conclusions: The findings underscore the complexity of mental health outcomes among school-aged children and the influence of caregiver well-being. The study highlights the importance of supporting both students and caregivers through targeted interventions. Multi-level strategies addressing emotional regulation, communication, and coping mechanisms may foster resilience and psychological growth in educational communities facing the aftermath of public health emergencies. Full article