Article
The posttraumatic growth inventory: Measuring the positive legacy of trauma
Richard G. Tedeschi,
Lawrence G. Calhoun,
Richard G. Tedeschi
Additional data are available from the authors at the Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223
Search for more papers by this authorLawrence G. Calhoun
Additional data are available from the authors at the Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223
Search for more papers by this authorRichard G. Tedeschi,
Lawrence G. Calhoun,
Richard G. Tedeschi
Additional data are available from the authors at the Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223
Search for more papers by this authorLawrence G. Calhoun
Additional data are available from the authors at the Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
The development of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, an instrument for assessing positive outcomes reported by persons who have experienced traumatic events, is described. This 21-item scale includes factors of New Possibilities, Relating to Others, Personal Strength, Spiritual Change, and Appreciation of Life. Women tend to report more benefits than do men, and persons who have experienced traumatic events report more positive change than do persons who have not experienced extraordinary events. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory is modestly related to optimism and extroversion. The scale appears to have utility in determining how successful individuals, coping with the aftermath of trauma, are in reconstructing or strengthening their perceptions of self, others, and the meaning of events.
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