Cited by 67Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchResilience and Mental HealthCancer survivorship and care

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Are reports of posttraumatic growth positively biased?

Smith, Sharon G., Cook, Sarah L.·2004·Journal of Traumatic Stress

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Abstract

This study examines positivity bias in reports of growth following exposure to traumatic events. Participants (N = 276) from an urban university and a superior court jury pool were randomly assigned to one of two methodological groups. In one, participants responded to the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) in relation to a specific stressful event. In the other, PTGI questions were not linked to specific events. Findings indicate that current methods for assessing posttraumatic growth (PTG) may actually underestimate growth. That is, linking questions about growth to specific stressors may have led participants to be cautious about attributing their growth experiences to a traumatic event. These findings contradict notions that current methods of measuring PTG create a positivity bias. Suggestions for future research include the use of prospective designs and corroborating reports of growth.

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10.1037/0022-3514.79.3.327 · DOI
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Authors: Smith, S. G., & Cook, S. L.
Affiliations: Georgia State University (US)
Corresponding author: Smith, Sharon G.
ORCID: Smith, Sharon G.
Cook, Sarah L.
Venue: Journal of Traumatic Stress
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2004-08
Volume: 17
Issue: 4
Pages: 353-358
ISSN: 0894-9867 (ISSN-L)
1573-6598
DOI: 10.1023/b:jots.0000038485.38771.c6
OpenAlex: W2100737133
Cited by: 67
References: 28
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 6
FWCI: 4.05
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 333 d)
Locations: Journal of Traumatic Stress (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
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, positivity bias, measurement bias, Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, traumatic events, self-report measures
MeSH terms: Adult, Aged, False Negative Reactions, False Positive Reactions, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychometrics, Sensitivity and Specificity, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Stress, Psychological, Urban Population, Bias, Disease Progression

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Are reports of posttraumatic growth positively biased?

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