The DOI matches its Crossref record; 42 of the 44 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
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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In the citing paper
“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]
In the citing paper
“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]
In the citing paper
“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.”
In the citing paper
“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.”
In the citing paper
“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)”
In the citing paper
“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.”
In the citing paper
“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].”
In the citing paper
“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 ]
In the citing paper
“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 ]
In the citing paper
“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 ]
In the citing paper
“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 ]
Citations
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“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 betweenTime 1 andTime 2 (n5 122).”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialThe meaning in life questionnaire: assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life
Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kaler, M. (2006) · Journal of Counseling Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80 · Cited by 4,843
Self-citation
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- Kubany E., 2004, Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire and PTSD Screening and Diagnostic Scale
- 10.1037/0022-3514.82.1.112 · DOI · Paper page
- 10.1037/0022-3514.79.3.327 · DOI
- Stone A.A. (2005, April). Real-time ePRO data collected using eDiaries: Comparisons to recall-based measures of change. Paper presented at the Drug Information Association conference on Benefits and Challenges With ePRO, Arlington, VA.
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Metadata
- 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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