Gender Differences in Self-Reported Posttraumatic Growth: A Meta-Analysis
Abstract
A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the direction and magnitude of gender differences in self-reported post-traumatic growth. Results from 70 studies ( N = 16,076) revealed a small to moderate gender difference ( g = .27, 95% CI = .21 -.32), with women reporting more posttraumatic growth than men. Moderator analyses were then conducted to identify possible sources of these differences. The following moderators were examined: mean age of sample, measure used, nature of the stressful event, language of the measure, and type of sample (i.e., community samples, college students, or mixed). The only significant moderator was age, with women reporting incrementally more posttraumatic growth as the mean age of the sample increased ( B = .004, p < .01, SE = .001, Q = 9.13). To check for publication bias, effect sizes were compared across published and unpublished research. The size of the gender difference was not significantly different between published ( g = .30, 95% CI = .23 -.38) and unpublished ( g = .22, 95% CI = .12 -.31) studies. The present findings indicate that modest, but reliable gender differences exist in posttraumatic growth even when unpublished data are included in the analyses. Possible explanations for these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
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PTG is generally thought to be more prevalent amongst women than men.
“Whilst PTG is generally thought to be more prevalent amongst women than men (Vishnevsky et al., 2010)”
From Post-traumatic growth in refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide: systematic review and meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as Vishnevsky et al., 2010
Females may experience stressful events as more burdensome, while also experiencing greater positive growth than males in similar situations, though the difference is often small and in some studies nonexistent.
“There have been indications that females may experience stressful events as more burdensome, while also experiencing greater positive growth than males in similar situations (Li et al., 2021) though the difference is often small (Vishnevsky et al., 2010) and in some studies, nonexistent (Kim et al., 2007).”
From Parenthood during the <scp>COVID</scp>‐19 pandemic: <scp>Post‐traumatic</scp> growth amongst university students (2023) · cites this paper as Vishnevsky et al., 2010
Females were higher than males in Post-traumatic growth (SMD = 0.26).
“Females were also higher in Post-traumatic growth (SMD = 0.26; Vishnevsky et al., 2010).”
From A Systematic Review and New Analyses of the Gender-Equality Paradox (2025) · cites this paper as Vishnevsky et al., 2010
Women's higher post-traumatic growth may be associated with their higher empathy and emotional awareness.
“Moreover, the fact that women develop more post-traumatic growth than men may also be associated with their higher empathy and emotional awareness (Vishnevsky et al., 2010).”
From Exploring the relationship between post-earthquake trauma, post-traumatic growth, and self-compassion (2026) · cites this paper as Vishnevsky et al., 2010
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“Whilst PTG is generally thought to be more prevalent amongst women than men (Vishnevsky et al., 2010), this was not observed amongst studies included in this review.”
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- Authors
- Vishnevsky, T., Cann, A., Calhoun, L. G., Tedeschi, R. G., & Demakis, G. J.
- Affiliations
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte (US)
- ORCID
- Tedeschi, Richard G.
- Venue
- Psychology of Women Quarterly
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2010-03
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 110-120
- ISSN
- 0361-6843 (ISSN-L)
- 1471-6402
- OpenAlex
- W2066909426
- Cited by
- 387
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 1.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychology of Women Quarterly (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, gender differences, women, age differences, life events, self-report measures, publication bias
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