Combined effect of compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding on Chinese college students' mental health during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a response surface analysis.

Background: The initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly deteriorated mental health, especially among college students. Self-compassion has demonstrated benefits for psychological outcomes such as depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and posttraumatic growth (PTG). Notably, existing literature suggests that the protective and vulnerable aspects within the Self-Compassion Scale, namely, compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding (CSR and USR), can coexist within individuals and influence their mental health through various coexisting patterns. However, this process has not been sufficiently explored.Objective: This study aimed to explore the combined effects of CSR and USR on college students' depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, PTSS, and PTG during the initial wave of the pandemic.Method: In this cross-sectional study, 4450 Chinese college students (51.9% females, Mage = 20.58 years, SD = 1.49) completed self-report measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic's initial wave in 2020. Response surface analyses were utilised to investigate the combined effects of CSR and USR.Results: Simultaneously increased CSR and USR were associated with a slight increase in depressive symptoms, PTSS, and life satisfaction, but a substantial increase in PTG. Conversely, increased CSR and decreased USR were associated with a considerable decrease in depressive symptoms and PTSS, a significant increase in life satisfaction, and a moderate increase in PTG.Conclusions: CSR and USR demonstrated protective and vulnerable impacts, respectively. It is imperative to analyse their combined effects as an interactive system and consider the specific characteristics of different psychological responses.

Increased CSR and decreased USR were associated with less depressive symptoms and PTSS as well as more life satisfaction.CSR mitigated the negative effects of USR on depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and PTSS.Simultaneously increased CSR and USR were associated with a substantial increase in PTG.

Potentially morally injurious experiences and associated factors among Dutch UN peacekeepers: a latent class analysis.

Background: During peacekeeping missions, military personnel may be involved in or exposed to potentially morally injurious experiences (PMIEs), such as an inability to intervene due to a limited mandate. While exposure to such morally transgressive events has been shown to lead to moral injury in combat veterans, research on moral injury in peacekeepers is limited.Objective: We aimed to determine patterns of exposure to PMIEs and associated outcome- and exposure-related factors among Dutch peacekeepers stationed in the former Yugoslavia during the Srebrenica genocide.Method: Self-report data were collected among Dutchbat III veterans (N = 431). We used Latent Class Analysis to identify subgroups of PMIE exposure as assessed by the Moral Injury Scale-Military version. We investigated whether deployment location, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), posttraumatic growth, resilience, and quality of life differentiated between latent classes.Results: The analysis identified a three-class solution: a high exposure class (n = 79), a moderate exposure class (n = 261), and a betrayal and powerlessness-only class (n = 135). More PMIE exposure was associated with deployment location and higher odds of having probable PTSD. PMIE exposure was not associated with posttraumatic growth. Resilience and quality of life were excluded from analyses due to high correlations with PTSD.Conclusions: Peacekeepers may experience varying levels of PMIE exposure, with more exposure being associated with worse outcomes 25 years later. Although no causal relationship may be assumed, the results emphasize the importance of better understanding PMIEs within peacekeeping.

Peacekeeping veterans reported different patterns of exposure to potentially morally injurious experiences: high exposure, moderate exposure, or experiences of betrayal and powerlessness only.Deployment location predicted the pattern of exposure.More exposure was associated with worse psychological outcomes 25 years later.

Turning pain into strength: prosocial behaviours in coping with trauma.

Background: Various coping strategies have been shown to alleviate the negative effects of trauma, yet the significance of prosocial behaviour in this realm has been notably underexplored. The present study explored the hypothesis that engaging in prosocial behaviour mitigates the impacts of trauma by promoting a sense of competence and relatedness, post-traumatic growth (PTG), and reconstruction of meaning.Methods: Three consecutive studies were conducted with college students to compare differences in consequence of prosocial behaviours between a trauma group and a control group. Study 1 (N = 96) used self-reported experiences of traumatic vs non-traumatic events; Study 2 (N = 43) used exposure vs. no exposure to video of an earthquake; Study 3 (N = 20) used a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a prosocial-themed intervention vs. no intervention. Outcomes in all studies were assessed by self-report questionnaires.Results: Trauma damaged participants' sense of competence and meaningfulness. Prosocial behaviour relieved the impact of trauma on meaning, specifically manifested in the individuals' sense of meaningfulness and their search for meaning. Group interventions with a prosocial theme (based on effect size results) reduced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and enhanced PTG in victims. The promoting effect on PTG persisted a month later, and its enhancing effect on meaning manifested with a delay.Conclusion: Prosocial behaviour can potentially serve as a beneficial strategy for individuals coping with trauma because it helps enhance meaning and promotes PTG in victims. This conclusion is supported by laboratory experiments and a tentative small-scale intervention study, which provide an innovative perspective for future trauma interventions.

Prosocial behaviour can potentially serve as a beneficial strategy for individuals coping with trauma.Prosocial behaviour relieved the impact of trauma on meaning.Prosocial-themed intervention reduced PTSD and enhanced PTG in victims (based on effect size results).

Stress and Post-traumatic Growth of people with cancer: identification of associated factors / Estrés y Crescimiento Postraumático de personas con cáncer: identificación de factores asociados

Objectives: Evaluate indicators and identify associated factors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic growth (PTG) in individuals undergoing oncological treatment. Method: Quantitative, cross-sectional, analytical survey design with a non-probabilistic sample of 74 participants. Six instruments measuring PTSD, PTG, spiritual well-being, illness perception, and social support were employed. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Results: It was evidenced that 21.60% of patients presented clinical indices of PTSD, and 85.12% showed a high index for PTG. High satisfaction indices were also observed for social support (86.48%), spiritual well-being (95.94%), and in identifying cancer as a potential threat to life (71.57%). Females, unmarried individuals, those inactive or unemployed, and those receiving public health support exhibited higher PTG indices. Women exhibit higher PTSD indices than men. Negative correlations were found between PTSD and spiritual well-being, and positive correlations with illness perception. Illness perception emerged as the variable with the greatest predictive power for PTSD indices. Conclusions: It is concluded that the threatening perception of the illness is a predictor of PTSD, highlighting it as a risk factor that requires attention in health prevention plans.(AU)

Objetivos: Evaluar los indicadores e identificar los factores asociados al trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) y al crecimiento postraumático (CPT) en personas sometidas a tratamiento oncológico. Método: Diseño cuantitativo, transversal, analítico y de encuesta, con una muestra no probabilística compuesta por 74 participantes, utilizando seis instrumentos que miden TEPT, CPT, bienestar espiritual, percepción de la enfermedad y apoyo social, analizados a través de estadísticas descriptivas e inferenciales, en el Programa Estadístico para Ciencias Sociales (SPSS). Resultado: Se evidenció que 21,60% de los pacientes presentaron índices clínicos de TEPT y 85,12% un índice elevado para CPT. También se observaron índices elevados de satisfacción con el apoyo social (86,48%), bienestar espiritual (95,94%) e identificación del cáncer como una posible amenaza a la vida (71,57%). Las personas del género femenino, solteras, inactivas o desempleadas y atendidas por el servicio público de salud presentan mayores índices de CPT. Las mujeres muestran mayores índices de TEPT que los hombres. Se encontraron correlaciones negativas entre TEPT y bienestar espiritual y correlaciones positivas con la percepción de la enfermedad. La percepción de la enfermedad fue la variable con mayor poder predictivo para los índices de TEPT. Conclusiones: Se concluye que la percepción amenazante de la enfermedad es un predictor de TEPT, siendo esta una variable de riesgo que requiere atención en los planes de prevención de daños a la salud.(AU)

Overcoming the civil wars: the role of attachment styles between the impact of war and psychological symptoms and post-traumatic growth among Libyan citizens.

Background: Civil wars in Libya have impacted the mental health of the general population. The ways in which individuals cope with traumatic events are influenced by several psychological variables.Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate how post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are associated with psychological symptoms and post-traumatic growth (PTG), and to evaluate the role of avoidant and anxious attachment dimensions as mediators in these associations, among Libyan citizens.Method: Three-hundred participants (147 females; age 31.0 ± 8.4 years) completed the Impact of Event Scale - Revised, Experiences in Close Relationships, Patient Health Questionnaire, and Post-traumatic Growth Inventory - Short Form.Results: The structural equation model revealed that insecure attachment dimensions mediated the association between PTSS and psychological symptoms and PTG. PTSS were positively associated with psychological symptoms, PTG, and both insecure attachment dimensions. Insecure attachment dimensions were positively associated with psychological symptoms and negatively with PTG.Conclusion: The present findings contribute to growing empirical research on the roles of insecure attachment dimensions in the association between the impact of war, psychological symptoms, and PTG.

Insecure attachment dimensions mediated the association between the impact of war and psychological symptoms, as well as posttraumatic growth, among Libyan citizens.Higher psychological symptoms were negatively correlated with posttraumatic growth.Psychological interventions should consider insecure attachment dimensions, when evaluating the consequences of prolonged and repeated wars.

Posttraumatic growth EEG neuromarkers: translational neural comparisons with resilience and PTSD in trauma-exposed healthy adults.

Background: Supporting wellbeing beyond symptom reduction is necessary in trauma care. Research suggests increased posttraumatic growth (PTG) may promote wellbeing more effectively than posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom reduction alone. Understanding neurobiological mechanisms of PTG would support PTG intervention development. However, most PTG research to-date has been cross-sectional data self-reported through surveys or interviews.Objective: Neural evidence of PTG and its coexistence with resilience and PTSD is limited. To advance neural PTG literature and contribute translational neuroscientific knowledge necessary to develop future objectively measurable neural-based PTG interventions.Method: Alpha frequency EEG and validated psychological inventories measuring PTG, resilience, and PTSD symptoms were collected from 30 trauma-exposed healthy adults amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. EEG data were collected using custom MNE-Python software, and a wireless OpenBCI 16-channel dry electrode EEG headset. Psychological inventory scores were analysed in SPSS Statistics and used to categorise the EEG data. Power spectral density analyses, t-tests and ANOVAs were conducted within EEGLab to identify brain activity differentiating high and low PTG, resilience, and PTSD symptoms.Results: Higher PTG was significantly differentiated from low PTG by higher alpha power in the left centro-temporal brain area around EEG electrode C3. A trend differentiating high PTG from PTSD was also indicated in this same location. Whole-scalp spectral topographies revealed alpha power EEG correlates of PTG, resilience and PTSD symptoms shared limited, but potentially meaningful similarities.Conclusion: This research provides the first comparative neural topographies of PTG, resilience and PTSD symptoms in the known literature. Results provide objective neural evidence supporting existing theory depicting PTG, resilience and PTSD as independent, yet co-occurring constructs. PTG neuromarker alpha C3 significantly delineated high from low PTG and warrants further investigation for potential clinical application. Findings provide foundation for future neural-based interventions and research for enhancing PTG in trauma-exposed individuals.

Objective translational study designed to increase neural understanding of posttraumatic growth (PTG) and provide a basis for future neural-based interventions to enhance PTG.Results provide neural evidence of PTG as an independent construct that coexists, and shares limited neural relatedness with resilience and PTSD symptoms.Increased PTG was significantly related to higher alpha power in the left centro-temporal brain area around EEG electrode C3: This finding warrants further investigation for potential clinical application.

How are experiences and acceptability of child maltreatment related to resilience and posttraumatic growth: a cross cultural study.

Background: Post-traumatic growth (PTG) and resilience, regarded as positive psychological change following a traumatic experience, are under-researched across cultures in people exposed to child maltreatment (CM).Objective: We investigated how experiences and the perceived acceptability of CM are related to resilience and PTG in countries with different cultures, living standards, and gross national income.Method: A total of 478 adults from Cameroon (n = 111), Canada (n = 137), Japan (n = 108), and Germany (n = 122) completed an online survey with self-reported questionnaires, including the Brief Resilience Scale and the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory-Short Form.Results: Across countries, self-reported male gender and age were positively associated with resilience, while experiences of physical abuse and emotional maltreatment were negatively associated with resilience. Experiences of emotional maltreatment were positively associated with PTG. Higher levels of PTG and resilience were found amongst Cameroonian participants as compared to other countries.Conclusion: Our results suggest that positive changes following CM can vary significantly across cultures and that experiences of specific CM subtypes, but not the perceived acceptability of CM, may be important for a deeper understanding of how individuals overcome trauma and develop salutogenic outcomes. Our findings may inform CM intervention programmes for an enhanced cultural sensitivity.

Across the four countries (Canada, Cameroon, Germany, Japan), more experiences of physical abuse and emotional maltreatment were associated with lower resilience; more experiences of emotional maltreatment were associated with greater post-traumatic growth.Higher levels of post-traumatic growth and resilience were found in Cameroon as compared to other countries.Positive changes following child maltreatment vary across cultures and experiences of specific child maltreatment subtypes, but the perceived acceptability of child maltreatment did not exert an influence on salutogenic post-traumatic outcomes.

The religious faith item of the Spanish Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and its Short Form (PTGI-SF): challenges and solutions.

Background: The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and its Short Form (PTGI-SF) are two instruments highly used in research on posttraumatic growth. They include a religious growth item that has been demonstrated to be problematic in cultures that are not very religious. Previous research has addressed this issue in other countries, but no attention has been paid to this critical problem in Spanish samples.Objective: Our aim is to address the psychometric issues presented by the religious growth item in Spain.Method: To do so, we reviewed several studies conducted with various populations in Spain.Results: The scores of the religious growth item in Spain present very low means and standard deviations, as well as high skewness and kurtosis, all of which point to a floor effect. The item scores show low item-test correlations, and it has failed to load on a specific dimension in factor analyses, thus casting doubts about its validity.Conclusions: The inventory does not seem to work properly in its current form in Spain. The inappropriateness of the item measuring religious growth in Spain may be due to cultural reasons. We recommend using the PTGI expanded version (PTGI-X) instead of the PTGI and exploring the possible substitution of the religious growth item in the PTGI-SF for an alternative item. In both cases, ascertaining the psychometric properties of the scores in Spain will be necessary.

The religious growth item in the PTGI and the PTGI-SF show serious psychometric validity issues in Spain. The PTGI Expanded version (PTGI-X) should be used instead of the PTGI in Spain. For the PTGI-SF, the religious item needs to be substituted.

Latent profile analysis of post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth among firefighters.

Background: Due to the job characteristics, firefighters are repeatedly exposed to trauma incidents. However, not all firefighters exhibit the same level of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or post-traumatic growth (PTG). Despite this, few studies have looked into firefighters' PTSD and PTG.Objective: This study identified subgroups of firefighters based on their PTSD and PTG levels, and investigated the influence of demographic factors and PTSD/PTG-related factors on latent class classification.Method: Latent profile analysis was used to examine the patterns of PTSD and PTG among 483 firefighters in South Korea. Using a cross-sectional design, demographic factors and job factors were examined as group covariates through a three-step approach. PTSD-related factors such as depression and suicide ideation, as well as PTG-related factors such as emotion-based response were analysed as differentiating factors.Results: Four classes were identified and named 'Low PTSD-low PTG (65.2%),' 'Mid PTSD-mid PTG (15.5%),' 'Low PTSD-high PTG (15.3%),' and 'High PTSD-mid PTG (3.9%).' The likelihood of belonging to the group with high trauma-related risks increased with more rotating shift work and years of service. The differentiating factors revealed differences based on the levels of PTSD and PTG in each group.Conclusions: 34.8% of firefighters experienced changes due to traumatic events while on the job, and some required serious attention. Modifiable job characteristics, such as the shift pattern, indirectly affected PTSD and PTG levels. Individual and job factors should be considered together when developing trauma interventions for firefighters.

Firefighters were classified into four groups based on their levels of PTSD and PTG. 65.2% of the participants belonged to the 'Low PTSD-low PTG' group.The shift pattern and years of service predicted the likelihood of group classification.This implies that, despite being frequently exposed to threatening events, not all firefighters experience trauma, and that job characteristics influence trauma-related vulnerabilities.

Pathways to post-traumatic growth in Korean female cancer patients: the mediation effects of coping strategies and resilience.

ABSTRACTBackground: Cancer is a life-threatening disease in Korean women. Female cancer patients in Korea have reported poor physical functioning and psychological distress after diagnosis. However, some patients experience post-traumatic growth (PTG), which includes positive feelings and changes.Objective: The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between PTG and its associated factors in Korean female cancer patients to understand how female cancer patients achieve PTG while experiencing cancer diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to improve the quality of life of many Korean female patients with cancer.Methods: This study investigated the structural model of the paths from the disruption of core beliefs (CBD), coping strategies, and resilience to PTG in a sample of female cancer patients. In total, 164 middle-aged women diagnosed with cancer were included in the final sample.Results: First, it was determined that the proposed structural model was substantial and had high fit indices. Second, problem-solving was positively associated by the CBD routes. Third, it was also favorably expected that problem-solving would lead to resilience and resilience would lead to PTG. These findings are important for developing future interventions for Korean female cancer patients and can be considered as an important variable to improve their PTG.

The proposed structural model observed paths of how female cancer patients achieve post-traumatic growth while experiencing cancer diagnosis and treatment.Disruption of core beliefs as a factor positively associates problem-solving in Korean female cancer patients.Problem-solving and resilience as factors positively associate post-traumatic growth in Korean female cancer patients.

Posttraumatic growth among childhood cancer survivors and their care-givers: associations with rumination and beliefs challenge / Crecimiento postraumático entre sobrevivientes de cáncer infantil y sus cuidadores: asociaciones con rumiación y desafío de creencias

Abstract. The main purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between PTG, challenge to core beliefs, intrusive and deliberate rumination in a sample of 43 dyads of childhood cancer survivors and their caregivers. Methods: Survivors (mean age = 17.04; SD=3.67) and caregivers (mean age = 46.84; SD = 8.32) completed the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Core Beliefs Inventory (CBI) and the Event-related Rumination Inventory (ERRI). Results: Results showed a positive and high correlation among PTG, CBI, and ERRI in both groups, separately. CBI was the main predictor of PTG both among survivors (β=0.826; t=9.393; R²=0.683; p≤0.001) and caregivers (β=0.552; t=4.235; R²=0.304; p≤0.001). Caregivers reported higher scores than survivors in PTG (t=-2.999 p≤0.01) and its dimensions Relationship with others (t=2.498; p≤0.05), Spiritual change (t=-15.823; p≤0.001), Life appreciation (t=-3.129;

Resumen. El objetivo principal del estudio fue evaluar la relación entre el CPT, el desafío a las creencias, la rumiación intrusiva y deliberada en una muestra de 43 díadas de sobrevivientes de cáncer infantil y sus cuidadores. Métodos: Los sobrevivientes (edad media = 17,04; SD = 3,67) y los cuidadores (edad media = 46,84; SD = 8,32) completaron el Inventario de Crecimiento Postraumático (PTGI), el Inventario de Creencias Básicas (CBI) y el Inventario de Rumiación Relacionada con Eventos (ERRI). Resultados: Los resultados mostraron una correlación positiva y alta entre PTG, CBI y ERRI en ambos grupos, por separado. El CBI fue el principal predictor de CPT tanto entre los sobrevivientes (β=0,826; t=9,393; R²=0,683; p≤0,001) como entre los cuidadores (β=0,552; t=4,235; R²=0,304; p≤0,001). Los cuidadores reportaron puntajes más altos que los sobrevivientes en CPT (t=-2,999 p≤0,01) y sus dimensiones Relación con los demás (t=2,498; p≤0,05), Cambio espiritual (t=-15,823; p≤0,001), Valoración de la vida (t =-3,129;

Keys to emotional wellbeing and resilience in minors who have suffered trauma / Claves del Bienestar Emocional y de la Resiliencia en Menores que han Sufrido un Trauma

Being a victim of a violent event in childhood carries a higher risk of developing emotional, behavioral and social problems. However, not all minors show serious negative consequences. Their degree of resilience will depend on previous emotional stability, degree of self-esteem, cognitive style and the type of experiences, as well as their ability to solve problems. Protective factors implicated in resilience include a stable family environment, helpful relationships with peers, and community support. There are certain adaptive coping strategies, such as striving to realistically solve everyday problems, adapting to the new reality, and actively forgetting or forgiving what happened. The greater or lesser use of certain cognitive emotional regulation strategies can also condition the recovery process or be linked to different trajectories of the victims in the face of potentially traumatic events. A positive indicator of the victim’s improvement is when the verbal expression of feelings is recovered and order is brought to the chaos of images and memories of the violent event. Further research is required in the near future, such as the influence of the age and gender of minors and the role of coping strategies and emotional regulation.(AU)

Ser víctima de un suceso violento en la infancia conlleva un mayor riesgo en el desarrollo de problemas emocionales, de conducta y sociales. Sin embargo, no todos los menores muestran consecuencias negativas graves. La mayor o menor resiliencia va a depender del equilibrio emocional previo, del grado de autoestima, del estilo cognitivo y del tipo de experiencias habidas, así como de su capacidad de resolución de problemas. Entre los factores de protección implicados en la resiliencia figuran el entorno familiar estable y las relaciones de ayuda con los iguales y el apoyo del entorno comunitario. Hay ciertas estrategias de afrontamiento adaptativas, como esforzarse por solucionar los problemas cotidianos de una manera realista y adaptarse a la nueva realidad, olvidar de forma activa o perdonar lo ocurrido. El mayor o menor uso de determinadas estrategias de regulación emocional cognitiva puede asimismo condicionar el proceso de recuperación o estar vinculado a diferentes trayectorias de las víctimas ante sucesos potencialmente traumáticos. Un indicador positivo del proceso de mejoría de la víctima es cuando se recupera la expresión verbal de los sentimientos y se pone orden en el caos de las imágenes y recuerdos del suceso violento. Nuevas investigaciones son requeridas en un futuro próximo, como la influencia de la edad y del sexo de los menores y el papel de las estrategias de afrontamiento y de regulación emocional.(AU)

Dysfunctional Attitudes and Long-Term Posttraumatic Growth in Victims of Terrorist Attacks / Actitudes Disfuncionales y Crecimiento Postraumático a Largo Plazo en Víctimas de Atentados Terroristas

Background: The theoretical models of posttraumatic growth (PTG) assume that a change in core beliefs or attitudes about the world and oneself is at the root of PTG. However, there are few studies on the relationship between these attitudes and PTG and their results are contradictory. The contradictions could be clarified using an instrument that assesses attitudes more specifically related to the traumatic event (traumatic dysfunctional attitudes) and analyzing whether said relationship is linear or an inverted U. Methods: A sample of 210 adults directly exposed to terrorist attacks in Spain completed diagnostic measures of emotional disorders and measures of PTSD and depression symptomatology, optimism, traumatic and depressive dysfunctional attitudes, and PTG a mean of 29.6 years after the attacks (range: 2-47 years). Results: Multiple regression analyses revealed that some long-term PTG dimensions were significantly associated in a linear or inverted-U fashion with traumatic dysfunctional attitudes, such that the most extreme levels of spiritual change were associated with the highest total levels of traumatic dysfunctional attitudes while the highest levels of appreciation of life were associated with moderate levels of total traumatic dysfunctional attitudes and, especially, attitudes of perpetual suffering. However, long-term PTG was not associated with depressive dysfunctional attitudes. Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of core attitudes for PTG and offer support for the hypothesis that, over time, the positive basic attitudes of many people who have experienced a traumatic event are reconstructed, but incorporating negative or dysfunctional attitudes, which means that a certain amount of traumatic dysfunctional attitudes may be a necessary condition for long-term PTG.(AU)

Antecedentes: Los modelos teóricos del crecimiento postraumático (CPT) suponen que un cambio en las creencias o actitudes básicas sobre el mundo y uno mismo es la raíz del CPT. Sin embargo, existen pocos estudios sobre la relación entre esas actitudes y el CPT y sus resultados son contradictorios. Las contradicciones podrían aclararse utilizando un instrumento que evalúe las actitudes más específicamente relacionadas con el acontecimiento traumático (actitudes disfuncionales traumáticas) y analizando si dicha relación es lineal o en forma de U invertida. Método: Una muestra de 210 adultos expuestos directamente a atentados terroristas en España completaron medidas de trastorno emocional y medidas de sintomatología de TEPT y depresión, optimismo, actitudes disfuncionales traumáticas y depresivas y CPT una media de 29.6 años después de los atentados (rango: 2-47 años). Resultados: Análisis de regresión múltiple revelaron que algunas dimensiones del CPT a largo plazo se asociaron significativamente de forma lineal o de U invertida con las actitudes disfuncionales traumáticas, de manera que un mayor nivel de crecimiento espiritual se asociaba con un mayor nivel total de actitudes disfuncionales traumáticas y un mayor nivel de nueva valoración de la vida se asociaba con un nivel moderado total de actitudes disfuncionales traumáticas y, especialmente, de actitudes de cronificación del malestar. Sin embargo, el CPT a largo plazo no se asoció con las actitudes disfuncionales depresivas. Conclusión: Los resultados subrayan la importancia de las actitudes básicas en el CPT y ofrecen apoyo a la hipótesis de que, con el paso del tiempo, las actitudes básicas positivas de muchas de las personas que han experimentado un acontecimiento traumático se reconstruyen, pero incorporando actitudes negativas o disfuncionales, lo que supone que un cierto nivel de actitudes disfuncionales traumáticas podría ser una condición necesaria para el CPT a largo plazo.(AU)

Terapia sistémica breve en personas expuestas a un evento altamente estresante reciente: Un ensayo controlado aleatorizado / Brief systemic therapy in people exposed to a recent highly stressful event: A randomised controlled trial

Resumen: Antecedentes: Los eventos altamente estresantes pueden tener efectos nocivos en el bienestar y salud mental en las personas. Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia de un protocolo de intervención preventiva basado en la Terapia Sistémica Breve orientado a personas que vivenciaron de manera reciente un evento altamente estresante. Método: Participaron 75 personas, 39 conformaron el grupo experimental y 36 el grupo control. Para el análisis de los datos se siguió un diseño cuantitativo con dos grupos (experimental y control) y con dos puntos temporales (pre y post-intervención). Al grupo experimental se añadió un seguimiento a los seis meses. El protocolo estuvo estructurado en cuatro sesiones y apuntaba a incidir sobre los síntomas postraumáticos, el crecimiento postraumático, la respuesta rumiativa y las estrategias de afrontamiento. Resultados: Se observó un aumento del crecimiento postraumático, de la rumiación deliberada, del afrontamiento centrado en el problema y de la reinterpretación positiva en el grupo experimental. En cambio, solo hubo una tendencia no significativa en la reducción de la sintomatología postraumática y en la búsqueda de apoyo social. Conclusiones: Estos resultados contribuyen al desarrollo de la Terapia Sistémica Breve y apoyan su utilidad en la intervención preventiva con personas expuestas a un evento altamente estresante.

Abstract: Background: Highly stressful events can have harmful effects on people's well-being and mental health. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a preventive intervention protocol based on Brief Systemic Therapy oriented to people who recently experienced a highly stressful event. Method: Seventy-five people participated, 39 were in the experimental group and 36 in the control group. A quantitative design with two groups (experimental and control) and two time points (pre- and post-intervention) was used for data analysis. A six-month follow-up was added to the experimental group. The protocol was structured in four sessions and aimed to impact on posttraumatic symptoms, posttraumatic growth, ruminative response and coping strategies. Results: An increase in posttraumatic growth, deliberate rumination, problem-focused coping, and positive reinterpretation was observed in the experimental group. In contrast, there was only a nonsignificant trend in reduced posttraumatic symptomatology and in seeking social support. Conclusions: These results contribute to the development of Brief Systemic Therapy and support its usefulness in preventive intervention with people exposed to a highly stressful event.

Validación de la Escala de Prácticas Espirituales con víctimas de violencia política en Chile / Validation of the Spiritual Practices Scale with victims of political violence in Chile

Resumen En este artículo se presenta la validación de una versión abreviada de la Escala de Prácticas Espirituales de Parsian y Dunning (2009). Para ello, se utilizó una muestra de personas adultas (n = 251, M = 60.85, DT = 13.40) víctimas de violencia política en Chile durante la dictadura cívico militar (1973-1990). Para valorar la estructura de la escala se realizó un Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio (AFC), se calculó el índice de fiabilidad (α = .85) y se valoró la validez convergente con una serie de correlaciones bivariadas entre variables. De acuerdo a lo esperado, el AFC informa un adecuado ajuste a la estructura unifactorial y los resultados dan cuenta de la relación significativa entre las prácticas espirituales y el crecimiento postraumático y entre las prácticas espirituales y la religiosidad. La relación entre estas dos últimas es media-baja (r = .29), lo cual permite concluir que, aunque relacionadas, son constructos diferentes. A partir del análisis de los datos, no se puede concluir que exista relación entre las prácticas espirituales con la edad y el nivel de ingresos. En conclusión, la versión abreviada de la Escala de Prácticas Espirituales presenta adecuados niveles de fiabilidad y validez, por lo que resulta recomendable para ser utilizada en la medición de prácticas espirituales, especialmente en aquellas poblaciones que no se adscriben a una fe teísta.

Abstract Spirituality, or what motivates the search for the sacred from particular and free positions, allows us to provide a framework from which to interpret the experience of loss and suffering, contributing in different ways to the resignification and re-authorship of people after the trauma. It is related to resilience, with that ability to overcome adverse events. It favors the mitigation of the negative effects of the traumatic event and fosters healthy and successful psychological development -despite the suffering caused by an external situation- by promoting the construction and redefinition of people's life purpose -one of the central components of human well-being-, being especially relevant in those who have been victims of trauma. Thus, spirituality can contribute to the reconfiguration of the narrative about the survived experience from practices that promote spiritual emotion such as the actions of meditating or praying, the latter considered as one of the mechanisms of self-revelation that is fundamental within the post traumatic growth process. Spirituality and religion maintain a complex interrelation that at times makes difficult the distinction between them. However, this distinction is especially sensitive and necessary when it comes to accounting for spirituality in people who do not profess a theistic faith. This is the case of a significant part of people with left-wing ideologies -who suffered some type of violence during the military dictatorships implanted from the second half of the 20th century in Latin America. Particularly in Chile, the civic-military dictatorship (1973-1990) was especially cruel with people of left-wing ideologies, many of them not ascribed to a belief of a theistic order. In this context, it is relevant to account for spiritual practices -differentiating them from religious beliefs- in relation to post-traumatic growth in people victims of political violence. For this objective we have proposed in this article the validation of the short version of the Parsian and Dunning (2009) Spiritual Practice Scale. For this purpose, we utilized a sample of adult people victims of political violence in Chile during the military dictatorship between 1973 and 1990 (n = 251, M = 60.85, DT = 13.40). To assess the structure of the scale, we estimated a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The reliability index was calculated (α = .85) and the convergent validity was assessed with a series of bivariate correlations between variables. As expected, the CFA reports an adequate adjustment to the unifactorial structure and the results show the significant relationship between spiritual practices and post-traumatic growth (r = .45), and between spiritual practices with religiosity (r = .29). Being the relationship between spiritual practices and religiosity medium-low, it allows us to conclude that although they are related, they are different constructs. From the analysis of the data, it cannot be concluded that there is a relationship between spiritual practices with age and income level. In conclusion, the short version of the Spiritual Practices Scale presents adequate levels of reliability and validity, so it is recommended to be used in the measurement of spiritual practices, especially in those populations that do not adhere to a theistic faith.

Sintomatología y crecimiento postraumático en estudiantes de educación superior en Chile durante la pandemia por COVID-19

Objetivo. Evaluar un modelo predictivo de sintomatología postraumática (SPT) y de crecimiento postraumático (CPT), que incluía variables psicológicas, relacionadas con la pandemia y con las clases virtuales, en estudiantes de educación superior durante la pandemia. Método. Participaron 552 estudiantes cuya mayoría corresponde a un 68.5% de mujeres. Se aplicaron instrumentos para medir distintas variables psicológicas. Resultados. Se estableció que un modelo predictivo que incluía la rumiación intrusiva y deliberada, la severidad subjetiva, la supresión emocional, la revaluación cognitiva, el apoyo social, un espacio adecuado para conectarse a clases en línea y el nivel de estudios predecía en forma significativa la SPT. La rumiación deliberada, el apoyo social, la reevaluación cognitiva y la edad predecían el CPT. Se discute la relevancia de estos resultados para el apoyo que se podría brindar a los estudiantes.

Objective. To evaluate a predictive model of posttraumatic symptomatology (PTS) and posttraumatic growth (PTC), which included psychological, pandemic-related, and online classroom-related variables, in higher education students during the pandemic. Method. A total of 552 students participated, 68.5% of whom were women. Instruments were applied to measure different psychological variables. Results. It was established that a model that included intrusive and deliberate rumination, subjective severity, emotional suppression, cognitive reappraisal, social support, adequate space to connect to online classes, and educational attainment significantly predicted PTS. Deliberate rumination, social support, cognitive reappraisal, and age predicted CPT. The relevance of these findings to the academic support that could be provided to students is discussed.

The Spanish Posttraumatic Growth Inventory - Short Form in Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse / Validación de la Versión Española del Posttraumatic Growth Inventory - Short Form en Supervivientes de Abuso Sexual Infantil

Background: Child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors can experience psychological changes and growth as a consequence of their victimization experience, known as posttraumatic growth (PTG). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dimensionality, reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory – Short Form (PTGI-SF) (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996) in a sample of 104 adult survivors of CSA. Method: Different models of PTGI-SF validated in different languages and samples were tested using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Results: The results showed that the original five-factor model exhibited the best goodness of fit. Internal consistency was adequate for the general scale, and acceptable for the five different factors. Furthermore, positive correlations were found between the PTGI-SF total score and psychosocial and mental health problems, as well as gender differences, with women tending to report more PTG than men. Conclusions: These results suggest that the Spanish PTGI-SF is a brief, reliable, valid self-report measure for assessing PTG experienced by CSA survivors.(AU)

Antecedentes: La evidencia empírica muestra que las personas supervivientes de abuso sexual infantil (ASI) pueden experimentar cambios psicológicos y crecimiento como consecuencia de su experiencia de victimización, conocido como crecimiento postraumático (PTG). El propósito de este estudio era evaluar la dimensionalidad, fiabilidad y validez de la versión española del Posttraumatic Growth Inventory – Short Form (PTGI-SF) (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996) en una muestra de 104 personas adultos supervivientes de abuso sexual infantil. Método: Se evaluaron diferentes modelos del PTGI-SF validado en diferentes idiomas y para distintas muestras mediante el Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio. Resultados: Los resultados revelaron que el modelo original de cinco factores muestra la mejor bondad de ajuste. La consistencia interna resultó adecuada para toda la escala, y aceptable para los diferentes cinco factores. Además, se encontraron correlaciones positivas entre la puntuación total del PTGI-SF y los problemas psicosociales, así como, diferencias de género estadísticamente significativas, puesto que las mujeres reportaron más crecimiento postraumático que los hombres. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que la versión española del PTGI-SF es una medida autoinformada breve, fiable y válida para evaluar el crecimiento postraumático experimentado por las personas supervivientes de abuso sexual infantil.(AU)

Profiles of grief, post-traumatic stress, and post-traumatic growth among people bereaved due to COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 deaths elevate the prevalence of prolonged grief and post-traumatic stress symptoms among the bereaved, yet few studies have examined potential positive outcomes. Moreover, how COVID-19 bereavement affects individual-level mental health outcomes is under-researched. OBJECTIVE: This is the first study to use latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify heterogeneous profiles of prolonged grief, post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth among people bereaved due to COVID-19 and to identify predictors of latent class membership. METHODS: Four hundred and twenty-two Chinese participants who were bereaved due to COVID-19 completed an online survey between September and October 2020. The survey included the International (ICD-11) Prolonged Grief Disorder Scale (IPGDS), the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). LPA was run in Mplus, and the 3-step auxiliary approach was used to test the predicting effects of potential predictors of latent class membership identified with chi-square tests and ANOVAs. RESULTS: Four latent profiles were identified: resilience (10.7%), growth (20.1%), moderate-combined (42.2%) and high-combined (27.0%). The bereaved who shared a close relationship with the deceased and identified COVID-19 as the fundamental cause of death were more likely to be in the high-combined group. A conflictful bereaved-deceased relationship reduces the chance of being in the growth group. Moreover, the death of a younger person and loss of a partner attributed to maladaptive outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Serious attention needs to be paid to the mental health issues of people bereaved due to COVID-19 because nearly 70% of this group would have a moderate-combined or high-combined symptom profile. Special care should be given to those who lost someone younger, lost a partner or shared a close relationship with the deceased. Grief therapies that work on the conflicts between the deceased and the bereaved and unfinished business can be applied to facilitate growth.

Antecedentes: Las muertes por COVID-19 elevan la prevalencia de síntomas de duelo prolongado y estrés postraumático entre las personas en duelo, sin embargo, pocos estudios han examinado los posibles resultados positivos. Además, la forma en que el duelo por COVID-19 afecta los resultados de salud mental a nivel individual está poco investigada.Objetivo: Este es el primer estudio que utiliza el análisis de perfil latente (LPA) para identificar perfiles heterogéneos de duelo prolongado, estrés postraumático y crecimiento postraumático entre personas en duelo debido al COVID-19 y para identificar predictores de pertenencia a una clase latente.Métodos: Cuatrocientos veintidós participantes chinos que estaban en duelo debido a COVID-19 completaron una encuesta en línea entre septiembre y octubre de 2020. La encuesta incluyó la Escala Internacional de Trastorno por Duelo Prolongado (ICD-11) (IPGDS), la Lista de verificación de trastornos por estrés para el DSM-5 (PCL-5) y el Inventario de crecimiento postraumático (PTGI). Se ejecutó LPA en Mplus y se usó el enfoque auxiliar de 3 pasos para probar los efectos de concordancia de posibles predictores de pertenencia a una clase latente identificados con pruebas de chi-cuadrado y ANOVA.Resultados: Se identificaron cuatro perfiles latentes: resiliencia (10,7%), crecimiento (20,1%), combinado moderado (42,2%) y combinado alto (27,0%). Los deudos que compartían una relación cercana con el fallecido e identificaron al COVID-19 como la causa fundamental de muerte tenían más probabilidades de estar en el grupo de alta combinación. Una relación conflictiva con el fallecido reduce la posibilidad de estar en el grupo de crecimiento. Además, la muerte de una persona más joven y la pérdida de una pareja se asocian a resultados desadaptativos.Conclusiones: Se debe prestar mucha atención a los problemas de salud mental de las personas en duelo debido a COVID-19 porque casi el 70% de este grupo tendría un perfil de síntomas combinados moderados o combinados altos. Se debe prestar especial atención a quienes perdieron a alguien más joven, perdieron a una pareja o tuvieron una relación cercana con el fallecido. Las terapias de duelo que trabajan en los conflictos entre el fallecido y los deudos y en temáticas no resueltas, se pueden aplicar para facilitar el crecimiento.

Crecimiento postraumático y variables psicosociales en víctimas de violencia política / Posttraumatic growth and psychosocial variables among victims of political violence

Resumen Antecedentes: la dictadura militar chilena (1973-1990) dejó miles de víctimas entre afectados directos y familiares, quienes pudieron desarrollar diversas secuelas en su salud mental. Objetivos: el presente estudio buscó evaluar un modelo predictivo de crecimiento postraumático (CPT) que incluía la ideología política, el afrontamiento religioso y la rumiación, en víctimas de la violencia política durante la dictadura. Método: participaron 200 personas adultas reconocidas en el Programa de Reparación y Atención Integral de Salud (PRAIS), encargada de brindar apoyo a las víctimas directas de violaciones a los derechos humanos durante la dictadura, y a sus familiares. De ellos 104 son mujeres (52%) y 96 hombres (48%), en un rango de edad entre los 30 y 91 años. Se utilizaron como instrumentos el Inventario de Crecimiento Postraumático, la Escala Breve de Afrontamiento Religioso, la Escala de Rumiación relacionada con el Evento y la Escala de Ideología Política. Resultados: los principales resultados indicaron que el afrontamiento religioso positivo y la rumiación deliberada predijeron el CPT. La rumiación deliberada media parcialmente entre el afrontamiento religioso positivo y el CPT. Conclusión: se concluye que el afrontamiento religioso positivo y el procesamiento cognitivo deliberado favorecen los cambios positivos en víctimas directas de la violencia política y sus familiares. Ante esto, se refuerza la idea que las víctimas de estas violaciones logran crecer después de estas experiencias dolorosas.

Abstract Background: The Chilean military dictatorship (1973-1990) left thousands of victims among those directly affected and their families, who were able to develop various mental health sequelae. Objective: The present study sought to evaluate a predictive model of posttraumatic growth (PTG) that included political ideology, religious coping and rumination in victims of political violence during the dictatorship. Method: The study involved 200 adults recognised in the Programme for Reparation and Integral Health Care (PRAIS), which is responsible for providing support to direct victims of human rights violations and their family members during the dictatorship. Out of these, 104 were women (52%) and 96 were men (48%) ranging in age from 30 to 91 years. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Brief Religious Coping Scale, the Event-Related Rumination Scale and the Political Ideology Scale were used as instruments. Results: The main results indicated that positive religious coping and deliberate rumination predicted PTG. Deliberate rumination partially mediates between positive religious coping and PTG. Conclusion: It is concluded that positive religious coping and deliberate cognitive processing favour positive change in those directly affected by political violence and their family members. This reinforces the idea that victims of these violations manage to grow after these painful experiences.

Evidencias psicométricas mediante SEM y análisis de red del “Inventario de crecimiento postraumático” en adolescentes peruanos / Psychometric evidence through SEM and network analysis of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory Peruvian adolescents

El crecimiento postraumático es la capacidad psicológica para percibir cambios positivos ante eventos altamente estresantes o potencialmente traumáticos y puede ser especialmente útil para amortiguar sus efectos en la vida de los adolescentes. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la adaptación peruana del “Inventario de crecimiento postraumático” (PTGI). Participaron 2103 adolescentes (50,7% hombres) de entre 13 y 19 años, quienes estuvieron expuestos a algún evento altamente estresante en los últimos cinco años. Se realizó un análisis factorial confirmatorio, invarianza factorial, análisis de red y se correlacionó el PTGI con una medida de bienestar. Se observó el mejor ajuste parsimonioso en un modelo unidimensional de 21 ítems, el PTGI mostró ser invariante según el sexo, el análisis de red determinó mayor medida de centralidad de fuerza en el ítem 2 (apreciación de la vida). Estos resultados indican que el PTGI es una prueba con validez de constructo, invariante, fiable y adecuado para evaluar el nivel de crecimiento psicológico en adolescentes peruanos que sufrieron algún evento estresante durante los últimos cinco años (AU)

Posttraumatic growth is the psychological capacity to perceive positive changes in the face of highly stressful or potentially traumatic events and may be especially useful in buffering their effects in the lives of adolescents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Peruvian adaptation of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). A total of 2103 adolescents (50.7% male) between 13 and 19 years of age, who were exposed to some highly stressful event in the previous five years, participated in the study. Confirmatory factor analysis, factorial invariance, network analysis and correlation of the PTGI with a measure of well-being were performed. The best parsimonious fit was observed in a 21-item unidimensional model, the PTGI was shown to be gender invariant, and network analysis determined a greater measure of strength centrality in item 2 (appreciation of life). These results indicate that the PTGI is a test with construct validity, invariant, reliable and adequate to evaluate the level of psychological growth in Peruvian adolescents who suffered some stressful event during the previous five years (AU)