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Cited by 15Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchResilience and Mental HealthCancer survivorship and care

Exploring Posttraumatic Growth in Sierra Leone Using Mixed Methods

Open access
Exenberger, Silvia, Steidl, Andreas, Kamara, Aruna, Huber, Alexandra·2022·Journal of Happiness Studies
DOI 10.1007/s10902-021-00419-9
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Abstract

The Sierra Leonean population has faced severe collective traumata (e.g., civil war, Ebola). Although adversities have a devastating impact on people’s lives, there is strong evidence that the struggle with stressful life events can lead to positive changes, which is called posttraumatic growth (PTG). Across many cultures individuals experience PTG. However, the nature of PTG might be influenced by cultural factors. This study aimed to explore PTG in a Sierra Leonean sample using a convergent parallel mixed methods design. The quantitative study investigated the factor structure of the expanded Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-X). The qualitative study identified emergent PTG themes. In sum, 360 adults reported on their worst experience and completed the PTGI-X; Additionally, 20 participants took part in in-depth interviews. The original factor structure of the PTGI-X did not apply to this Sierra Leonean sample. A one-factor model including 17 items was supported by confirmatory factor analysis. The qualitative findings revealed PTG dimensions that corresponded to the original ones, which were summarised into the domain “individual growth” (tranquillity and trust, achievement motivation, existential apperception, emphasis on values of life, benevolence). A new domain “collective growth”, which reflected societal changes, was found as well. That means, in addition to a personal positive transformation, a social transformation was revealed. The findings indicated that an individualistic measurement such as the PTGI-X falls short to examine growth dimensions in non-Western cultures. A broader definition of PTG might foster the integration of different cultural and collective elements that emerge in response to stressful events.

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  • Posttraumatic boundaries are broader than previously theorised, as survivors often define their recovery or struggle through dimensions such as individual growth or existential shifts that traditional inventories fail to examine.

    “This aligns with evidence that posttraumatic boundaries are broader than previously theorised, as survivors often define their recovery or struggle through dimensions such as individual growth or existential shifts that traditional inventories fail to examine [45].”

    From The coexistence and trajectories of posttraumatic growth and depreciation: a 36-month longitudinal qualitative narrative analysis (2026) · cites this paper as [45]

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Authors
Exenberger, S., Steidl, A., Kamara, A., & Huber, A.
Affiliations
  • Innsbruck Medical University (AT)
  • Universität Innsbruck (AT)
Corresponding author
Exenberger, Silvia
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Happiness Studies
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2021-06-19
Volume
23
Issue
2
Pages
689-711
ISSN
  • 1389-4978 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-7780
DOI
10.1007/s10902-021-00419-9
OpenAlex
W3175228194
Cited by
15
References
83
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2021: 1
FWCI
1.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Happiness Studies (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
University of Innsbruck and Medical University of Innsbruck
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
Keywords
posttraumatic growth, Sierra Leone, civil war, Ebola, collective trauma, cultural factors, factor structure, individual growth, collective growth, social change, cross-cultural measurement

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