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Posttraumatische groei bij kinderen en adolescenten : een literatuur review

Rouw, L. (2017) Posttraumatische groei bij kinderen en adolescenten : een literatuur review.

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Abstract:Traditionally, trauma research focuses on the negative outcome of adversity. Recently, research has started to focus more on positive outcomes, especially on posttraumatic growth (PTG). This study reviews the literature currently available regarding PTG in children and adolescents. PTG is the positive change a person can experience by learning to cope with a traumatic event. These positive changes are generally occurring in five domains: new possibilities, relationship with others, personal strength, appreciation of life, and spiritual change. Empirical research done in the past has mainly focused on adults and three factors used to predict the influence on PTG. These three factors are: environmental variables regarding the traumatic event, social processes related to social development and social support, and psychological processes related to coping and resilience. Furthermore, demographics such as gender and age influence the prediction of PTG. Recently, it has become clear that children and adolescents are capable of developing PTG as well. Therefore, this review study will address the potential predicting factors of PTG for this target group. Scientific databases, like ‘Scopus’ and ‘Web of Sciences’, are used with search terms about PTG, the three predictive factors for growth, and youth. This search resulted in eighteen useful studies, which all contain at least one of the three predicting factors. Most participants in these studies are Western or Asian people between the age of 8 and 18. The distribution of men and women was equally divided. The majority of studies used the ‘Post Traumatic Growth Inventory’, which is a self-reflection questionnaire. Based on the studies that were selected to be used for this review, it becomes clear that the first predicting factor, the environmental variables, show that PTSD and PTG can occur simultaneously, but are two independent dimensions. Furthermore, research shows that especially the type of trauma affects the development of PTG. For example, a man-made trauma is less suitable for predicting the development of PTG than a trauma that is integrated in one’s life. The majority of the studies suggests that the second predicting factor, social processes, is a significant predictor of PTG as well. With regard to the third predictor, psychological processes, no significant statements can be made as the predictor was not included in enough studies. Strengths and weaknesses of this review are discussed and recommendations for future research are provided.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology MSc (66604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/71634
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