Individual and experiential predictors of character development across the deployment cycle

2021 ◽  
pp. 089020702110129
Author(s):  
William J Chopik ◽  
Whitney L Kelley ◽  
Loryana L Vie ◽  
Paul B Lester ◽  
Douglas G Bonett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Character Development ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Time Analysis ◽  
Deployment Cycle ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Data Source ◽  
Stressful Experiences ◽  
First Time ◽  
Practical Implications

How soldiers adapt to and change in response to the deployment experience has received a great deal of attention. What predicts which soldiers are resilient and which soldiers decline in character strengths across the deployment transition? We examined this question in two analyses drawing from the same data source of soldiers deploying for the first time (Analysis 1: N = 179,026; Analysis 2: N = 85,285; Mage = 24.6–24.7 years old, SD = 4.87; 66.5–66.9% White). Specifically, we examined how individual (e.g. sociodemographic, military) and deployment (e.g. stressful experiences) characteristics predict character development across the deployment cycle. Character strengths were assessed once before and up to three times after soldiers’ return from deployment. Reproducing previous work, we found evidence for two classes of change—a resilient class (“stable high”) and a recovery class (“persistent low”). The strongest predictor of high, resilient character strength levels was better self-rated health at baseline. The findings are discussed in the context of the mechanisms that drive character development, evidence for post-traumatic growth, and practical implications for the U.S. Army.

scholarly journals Development of character strengths across the deployment cycle among U.S. Army soldiers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Chopik ◽  
Whitney L. Kelley ◽  
Loryana L. Vie ◽  
Jeewon Oh ◽  
Douglas G. Bonett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Character Development ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Deployment Cycle ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Army Soldiers ◽  
First Time ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Positive Character

Objective: Despite a narrative of post-traumatic growth and resilience, research reliably demonstrating positive character development following adversity has proved elusive. In the current study, we examined changes in character strengths in Army soldiers deploying for the first time. The sample was comprised of 212,386 Army soldiers (Mage = 26.5 years old, SD = 7.13; 70.8% White) who were deploying for the first time. Character strengths were assessed once before and up to three times following soldiers’ return from deployment. We found evidence for two classes of change—a resilient class (“stable high”) and a declining class (“persistent low”). Most soldiers were resilient—they had high levels of character strengths prior to deployment and changed very little across the deployment cycle. Approximately 40% of soldiers started with lower character and experienced initial declines post-deployment, from which they experienced no more than small gains over time. Character strengths were highly stable across the deployment transition but some soldiers experienced initial declines from which they never fully rebounded. The findings are discussed in the context of the mechanisms that drive character development.

Studying Post-Traumatic Growth Across the Adult Life Span

2021 ◽  
pp. 186-211
Author(s):  
Omar E. Staben ◽  
Molly J. Gardner ◽  
Frank J. Infurna ◽  
Suniya S. Luthar ◽  
Kevin J. Grimm
Keyword(s):  
Life Span ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Adult Life Span ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Methodological Considerations

This chapter discusses conceptual and methodological considerations for studying post-traumatic growth across adulthood and into old age. Conceptual considerations that the authors focus on include examining character strengths and virtues longitudinally across multiple age groups and also the stability of these strengths and virtues across the life span. Methodological considerations elaborated are the use of convenience sampling in scale development and the importance of measurement invariance when examining character strengths in the context of post-traumatic growth. The authors provide examples from previous research on post-traumatic growth and discuss methods of measurement that could be utilized to enhance the validity of current measures. The chapter highlights the importance of character strengths and virtues and aims to solidify their role in the scientific community. Additionally, it highlights the need for more rigorous lines of scientific inquiry in this area due to its potential to impact healthy aging outcomes for persons across the adult life span.

Current Assessment and Interpretation of Perceived Post-Traumatic Growth

2021 ◽  
pp. 12-27
Author(s):  
Crystal L. Park ◽  
Adriel Boals
Keyword(s):  
Historical Perspective ◽  
Growth Stress ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Positive Reappraisal ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Current Assessment ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Stressful Experiences ◽  
Character Growth

Positive reappraisal is a key method for managing distressing emotions and reframing troubling circumstances into a challenge that is more easily handled or resolved. One of the main ways that people positively reframe their stressful experiences is by perceiving that they have grown or benefitted from them. This chapter provides a historical perspective on the study of perceived growth. Topics that are covered include nuances in the terminology ranging from character growth, stress-related growth, hardiness, and post-traumatic growth. In sum, the various concepts that have been used in this literature will be discussed and distinguished, as opposed to being used interchangeably. The authors also provide a discussion of directions for future research.

Considering Characteristics of Events in Research on Post-Traumatic Growth

2021 ◽  
pp. 212-224
Author(s):  
Maike Luhmann ◽  
Ina Fassbender
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Past Research ◽  
External Control ◽  
Central Research ◽  
Negative Valence ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Character Growth

Why do some events lead to growth in character strengths and others do not? Past research has addressed this question using a typological approach where adversities are grouped into different types or categories (e.g., daily stressor vs. clinical trauma). This approach has practical and theoretical limitations. In this chapter, the authors propose a conceptual model that incorporates a dimensional approach to examining how and why adverse events differ in their impact on character strengths. This conceptual model identifies 10 dimensions of event characteristics (e.g., external control, negative valence). They also explore the association among these event characteristics and character growth with a focus on five central research questions: (1) Which characteristics of adverse events are generally associated with character growth? (2) Which characteristics of adverse events are generally associated with declines in character strengths? (3) Are specific characteristics of adverse events associated with growth in specific character strengths? (4) Does the perception of event characteristics change over time? (5) Is the association between adversity and character strengths bidirectional?

3D sand mould printing: a review and a new approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donghua Zhao ◽  
Weizhong Guo ◽  
Baibing Zhang ◽  
Feng Gao
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Dimensional Accuracy ◽  
Time Analysis ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
On Line ◽  
Sand Mould ◽  
First Time ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review available technologies, analyse their features, propose a new approach of 3D sand mould printing based on line forming, introduce the manufacturing principle and show advantages of this approach, especially for larger parts with large Z steps in the build, such as 2 mm stepwise. Design/methodology/approach This paper introduces 3D sand mould printing, compares and analyses technological process and existing fabrication approaches among available technologies first. Then, a new approach of 3D sand mould printing is proposed to improve build speed. In addition, the proposed system will be analysed or benchmarked against existing systems. Findings A new approach based on line forming of sand mould printing is put forward by reviewing and analysing available technologies, to improve build speed from the aspect of basic moulding movement instead of optimization of moulding methods and process parameters. The theoretical calculation and analysis shows that build speed can be improved greatly, and it is more suitable for the manufacture of large-scale casting’s sand mould when considering dimensional accuracy and printing error, as well as uniformity of each layer. Research limitations/implications The specific implement scheme of line forming and nozzle’s specific structure of this new approach need further study. Practical implications Much higher build speed of 3D sand mould printing with new approach brings evident implication for moulds companies and manufacturing industry, having a far-reaching influence on the development of national economy. Originality/value This paper reviews available technologies and presents a new approach of 3D sand mould printing for the first time. Analysis of the new approach shows that this new method of sand mould printing can boost build speed greatly. So, its application prospect is great.

Post-traumatic growth and inclusive positivity

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Ito ◽  
M. Ozaki ◽  
N. Hanssen
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Post Traumatic
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