Does Self-Reported Posttraumatic Growth Reflect Genuine Positive Change?
Abstract
In this study, we evaluated the validity of self-reported posttraumatic growth (PTG) by assessing the relation between perceived growth and actual growth from pre- to posttrauma. Undergraduate students completed measures tapping typical PTG domains at Time 1 and Time 2 (2 months later). We compared change in those measures with scores on the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996 ) for those participants who reported a traumatic event between Time 1 and Time 2 ( n = 122). PTGI scores generally were unrelated to actual growth in PTG-related domains. Moreover, perceived growth was associated with increased distress from pre- to posttrauma, whereas actual growth was related to decreased distress, a pattern suggesting that perceived and actual growth reflect different processes. Finally, perceived (but not actual) growth was related to positive reinterpretation coping. Thus, the PTGI, and perhaps other retrospective measures, does not appear to measure actual pre- to posttrauma change.
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The main reason for criticism was the method of self-assessment, specifically retrospective self-assessment by the subjects.
“Podstawowym powodem był sposób samooceny ito retrospektywnej, dokonywany przez osoby badane.”
From Does it only benefit the patient? Potentially positive impact of psychotherapy of traumatized people — on the therapist (2025) · cites this paper as [30]
Numerous studies on posttraumatic growth have met with criticism.
“Liczne badania nad rozwojem potraumatycznym spotkały się zkrytyką [30].”
From Does it only benefit the patient? Potentially positive impact of psychotherapy of traumatized people — on the therapist (2025) · cites this paper as [30]
The illusory nature of PTGI was empirically supported by Frazier et al., who concluded that this type of instrument does not appear to measure actual change.
“The illusory nature of PTGI was empirically supported by the study by Frazier et al. [11], who concluded that this type of instrument does not appear to measure actual change.”
Frazier et al. did not find more evidence for reliable psychological growth than decline when comparing scores for actual change before and after trauma.
“Furthermore, when comparing scores for actual change between before and after trauma, Frazier et al. did not find more evidence for reliable psychological growth than decline, raising issues about the characteristics of genuine post-traumatic growth and the best measure to describe it.”
The prospective 'appreciation of life' measure was not significantly related to the PTGI 'appreciation of life' component at Time 2 (r = 0.12, p > 0.25).
“Unexpectedly, and contrary to Frazier et al. [11], this scale was not related significantly to the appreciation of life component from the PTGI (r = 0.12, p > 0.25)”
These findings are consistent with Frazier et al., who found that post-traumatic growth, when assessed with a pre/post-test methodology, is not as common as previously shown and can be a skewed perception of positive changes.
“These findings are consistent with the study of Frazier et al. [11], who found that post-traumatic growth, when assessed with a pre/post-test methodology is not as common as previously shown in numerous studies and can be a skewed perception of positive changes.”
Research has revealed that avoidance coping is negatively related with positive re-appraisal coping, the latter being involved in the perception of post-traumatic growth.
“Consistently, research has revealed that avoidance coping is negatively related with positive re-appraisal coping [42], the latter being involved in the perception of a post-traumatic growth [11].”
The intervening trauma sample in the current study (N = 64) was only slightly more than half the sample size in the Frazier et al. study (N = 120).
“The second limitation is our limited statistical power. The intervening trauma sample in the current study ( N = 64) was only slightly more than half the sample size in the Frazier et al. study ( N = 120).”
From Perceptions of Change after a Trauma and Perceived Posttraumatic Growth: A Prospective Examination (2019) · cites this paper as Frazier et al. (2009) [ 7 ]
The current study did not replicate the significant positive correlation between Time 2 PTGI scores and change in C-PTGI scores found by Frazier et al. (2009).
“First, Frazier et al. found a small but significant positive correlation between the Time 2 PTGI scores and change in C-PTGI scores ( r = 0.22); this same correlation was not significant in the current study ( r = −0.22, ns ).”
From Perceptions of Change after a Trauma and Perceived Posttraumatic Growth: A Prospective Examination (2019) · cites this paper as Frazier et al. (2009) [ 7 ]
The current study did not replicate the significant positive correlation between Time 2 PTGI scores and Time 2 positive reframing coping found by Frazier et al. (2009).
“Third, Frazier et al. found Time 2 PTGI scores were strongly correlated with Time 2 positive reframing coping ( r = 0.52); this correlation was not significant in the current study ( r = 0.01, ns ).”
From Perceptions of Change after a Trauma and Perceived Posttraumatic Growth: A Prospective Examination (2019) · cites this paper as Frazier et al. (2009) [ 7 ]
The current study did not replicate the significant positive correlation between Time 2 PTGI scores and changes in religious commitment found by Frazier et al. (2009).
“Second, Frazier et al. found a positive correlation ( r = 0.29) between Time 2 PTGI scores and changes in religious commitment (one of the five secondary measures of actual change); this same correlation was not significant in the current study ( r = 0.08, ns ).”
From Perceptions of Change after a Trauma and Perceived Posttraumatic Growth: A Prospective Examination (2019) · cites this paper as Frazier et al. (2009) [ 7 ]
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- Authors
- Frazier, P., Tennen, H., Gavian, M., Park, C., Tomich, P., & Tashiro, T.
- Affiliations
- University of Minnesota (US)
- University of Connecticut (US)
- Kent State University (US)
- University of Colorado Boulder (US)
- Corresponding author
- Frazier, Patricia
- Venue
- Psychological Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2009-07
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 912-919
- ISSN
- 0956-7976 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-9280
- OpenAlex
- W2079286588
- Cited by
- 460
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 24
- FWCI
- 22.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Science (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, self-report validity, Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, traumatic events, psychological distress, undergraduate students, measurement validity
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Female, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Perception, Personal Satisfaction, Prospective Studies, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Mental Recall, Self Disclosure, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Stress, Psychological, Students, United States, Young Adult
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