Adolescent Posttraumatic Growth: A Review
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Adolescent Posttraumatic Growth: A Review Jennifer Harmon1 · Amanda Venta2
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Existing literature on posttraumatic growth following adverse experiences has questioned adolescent capacity to experience such growth given immature cognitive and affective development. The aim of this review was to conduct the first review of the literature regarding post-traumatic growth among adolescents (ages 12–18) to determine whether there is empirical evidence of adolescent post-traumatic growth. Results of the review, conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, are reported to (1) summarize existing support for adolescent post-traumatic growth within available empirical literature, (2) discuss potential moderators of adolescent post-traumatic growth occurrence, and (3) review existing measures of post-traumatic growth. Evidence of adolescent post-traumatic growth was found within three studies with correlational designs and two studies with longitudinal designs. The majority of the literature regarding adolescent post-traumatic growth provides initial support in the form of correlational evidence; however, such support is difficult to empirically establish given the lack of longitudinal studies in this area. Critiques of the extant research and areas for future research are discussed. Keywords Adolescence · Trauma · Post-traumatic growth · Psychological change
Introduction Post-traumatic growth refers to positive growth after adverse experiences [1] This psychological change may include positive changes in an individual’s relationships, positive changes in an individual’s perception of self, and an overall positive change in an individual’s philosophy of life sometimes referred to as growth in wisdom [2]. Specifically, positive change in an individual’s relationships involves having increased compassion for others, increased sensitivity, and increased openness to other individuals. Positive change in an individual’s perception of self involves increased selfefficacy, self-esteem, confidence in oneself, and an overall sense that one is a good person. Positive change in an individual’s philosophy of life involves increased feelings of reward following life’s challenges, meaning in one’s life, appreciation for one’s life, and an increased sense of maturity, all of which increases the likelihood that an individual * Amanda Venta [email protected] 1
Department of Psychology, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, USA
Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, USA
2
will live his/her life more consciously. Though the specific mechanism by which the process of post-traumatic growth occurs is largely unknown, previous post-traumatic growth research has postulated that life-threatening or traumatic life events may facilitate an individual to better oneself [3]. Specifically, individuals may accept that an adverse event has occurred and view their subsequent response as an opp
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