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.

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 Effects of prior deployments and perceived resilience on anger trajectories of combat-deployed soldiers

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Laura Campbell-Sills ◽  
Jason D. Kautz ◽  
Karmel W. Choi ◽  
James A. Naifeh ◽  
Pablo A. Aliaga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protective Effect ◽  
Growth Models ◽  
Mixed Effects ◽  
Us Army ◽  
Deployment Cycle ◽  
Army Soldiers ◽  
Problematic Anger ◽  
First Time ◽  
Best Fit ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Problematic anger is frequently reported by soldiers who have deployed to combat zones. However, evidence is lacking with respect to how anger changes over a deployment cycle, and which factors prospectively influence change in anger among combat-deployed soldiers. Methods Reports of problematic anger were obtained from 7298 US Army soldiers who deployed to Afghanistan in 2012. A series of mixed-effects growth models estimated linear trajectories of anger over a period of 1–2 months before deployment to 9 months post-deployment, and evaluated the effects of pre-deployment factors (prior deployments and perceived resilience) on average levels and growth of problematic anger. Results A model with random intercepts and slopes provided the best fit, indicating heterogeneity in soldiers' levels and trajectories of anger. First-time deployers reported the lowest anger overall, but the most growth in anger over time. Soldiers with multiple prior deployments displayed the highest anger overall, which remained relatively stable over time. Higher pre-deployment resilience was associated with lower reports of anger, but its protective effect diminished over time. First- and second-time deployers reporting low resilience displayed different anger trajectories (stable v. decreasing, respectively). Conclusions Change in anger from pre- to post-deployment varies based on pre-deployment factors. The observed differences in anger trajectories suggest that efforts to detect and reduce problematic anger should be tailored for first-time v. repeat deployers. Ongoing screening is needed even for soldiers reporting high resilience before deployment, as the protective effect of pre-deployment resilience on anger erodes over time.

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.

Openness to Experience and Post-Traumatic Growth

2021 ◽  
pp. 225-241
Author(s):  
Marie Forgeard ◽  
Elana Bayer-Pacht ◽  
Paul J. Silvia ◽  
Ann Marie Roepke ◽  
Thröstur Björgvinsson
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Work ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Negative Events ◽  
Psychological Growth ◽  
Longitudinal Methods ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Changes Over Time ◽  
Over Time

Although many individuals retrospectively report feeling more open and receptive to new ideas and possibilities after experiencing adverse events, research specifically examining growth on this dimension of character (as opposed to more general psychological growth) remains scarce. To stimulate future theoretical and empirical work in this area, this chapter reviews and discusses existing scientific research pertaining to changes in the personality trait of openness to new experience following adversity. Studies using retrospective self-reports have shown that people judge themselves as more open following highly stressful events. Such research also suggests that changes in openness could even help foster more general psychological growth. It is, however, possible that people involuntarily distort their self-perceptions to cope with difficulties, and several other lines of research have produced contradictory findings. Correlational and experimental evidence has shown that stressful experiences can decrease openness. Most longitudinal studies examining changes in personality over time have found no changes in openness following negative events. To help reconcile previous contradictory findings, the authors propose a methodological agenda including using multiple methods to assess openness, complementing correlational with longitudinal methods to examine changes over time, studying everyday manifestations of openness (including how people deal with everyday stressors), and investigating potential moderators and mediators of growth in this trait. Such research will help increase clarity about the circumstances under which people may (or may not) become more open as a result of adversity.

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 Strengths ◽  
Deployment Cycle ◽  
Army Soldiers

scholarly journals How does benefit finding evolve over time among Chinese women breast cancer survivals: a longitudinal study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiyun Bi ◽  
Huaning Wang ◽  
Guitao Yang ◽  
Cailin Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Chinese Women ◽  
Benefit Finding ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Active Disease ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Objective: Even though the prevalence of benefit finding (BF) has been empirically shown to exist among breast cancer (BC) survivals, how does benefit finding evolve over time remains inadequately investigated. This objective of this study is to examine how BF evolves over time among Chinese breast cancer survivals and determine the demographic, medical and psychosocial factors that can sustain BF increase over time, thus bring about higher level of long-term post-traumatic growth among breast cancer survivals. Methods: Participants were 486 women with different stages of breast cancer (stages I, II and III) followed from completion of primary treatment. Analysis were performed on the data collected at the 3-year assessment during 2014-2019. Participants completed self-report questionnaires of characteristics and benefit finding at six time points with the interval of six months since BC diagnosis. The relationships between demographic, medical and psychosocial characteristics and benefit finding evolution over time were examined using mixed models. Results: Participants reported mixed results on the evolving patterns of benefit finding: 28% reported an upward trend in BF scoring over time, 49% instead reported an downward trend, and the remaining 23% reported no obvious change. Our study has shown that some well-known covariates of benefit finding, e.g. education, income, and social support, are not associated with BF trends. In comparison, levels of spirituality and disease coping at diagnosis can more reliably predict BF evolution over time. Our results strongly indicate that benefit finding can be sustained and increased by encouraging attempts at meaning-making and active disease coping during breast cancer treatment. To our knowledge, this study is among the first to examine trends of benefit finding evolution over time on breast cancer survivals and determine their psychosocial predictors in developing countries. Conclusion: Identifying the sustaining factors of benefit finding in the experience of breast cancer is the key to design psycho clinical solutions for patients’ long-term post-traumatic growth. As time goes by, cancer patients may experience less benefit finding. However, active disease coping and meaning-making by patients can effectively counter this undesired trend and boost their higher long-term post-traumatic growth.

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?

scholarly journals Positive psychology and its contribution to the development of positive victimology

Temida ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 17-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danica Vasiljevic-Prodanovic
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Positive Elements ◽  
The Social ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Positive Character

The development of positive psychology, a new direction in psychology, marked the beginning of a positive movement in the social sciences, having an impact on the development of criminology and victimology thought. This article presents basic principles of positive psychology, the study of positive emotions, positive character and institutions that make this possible. Additionally, the aim is to analyse the contribution of positive psychology to positive victimology. The author is of the opinion that the positive psychology approach may contribute to positive victimology in shifting the focus from weaknesses and risks to positive elements that promote recovery and post-traumatic growth of the victim.

scholarly journals How does benefit finding evolve over time among Chinese women breast cancer survivals: a longitudinal study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiyun Bi ◽  
Huaning Wang ◽  
Guitao Yang ◽  
Cailin Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Chinese Women ◽  
Benefit Finding ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Active Disease ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Objective: Even though the prevalence of benefit finding (BF) has been empirically shown to exist among breast cancer (BC) survivals, how does benefit finding evolve over time remains inadequately investigated. This objective of this study is to examine how BF evolves over time among Chinese breast cancer survivals and determine the demographic, medical and psychosocial factors that can sustain BF increase over time, thus bring about higher level of long-term post-traumatic growth among breast cancer survivals. Methods: Participants were 486 women with different stages of breast cancer (stages I, II and III) followed from completion of primary treatment. Analysis were performed on the data collected at the 3-year assessment during 2014-2019. Participants completed self-report questionnaires of characteristics and benefit finding at six time points with the interval of six months since BC diagnosis. The relationships between demographic, medical and psychosocial characteristics and benefit finding evolution over time were examined using mixed models. Results: Participants reported mixed results on the evolving patterns of benefit finding: 28% reported an upward trend in BF scoring over time, 49% instead reported an downward trend, and the remaining 23% reported no obvious change. Our study has shown that some well-known covariates of benefit finding, e.g. education, income, and social support, are not associated with BF trends. In comparison, levels of spirituality and disease coping at diagnosis can more reliably predict BF evolution over time. Our results strongly indicate that benefit finding can be sustained and increased by encouraging attempts at meaning-making and active disease coping during breast cancer treatment. To our knowledge, this study is among the first to examine trends of benefit finding evolution over time on breast cancer survivals and determine their psychosocial predictors in developing countries. Conclusion: Identifying the sustaining factors of benefit finding in the experience of breast cancer is the key to design psycho clinical solutions for patients’ long-term post-traumatic growth. As time goes by, cancer patients may experience less benefit finding. However, active disease coping and meaning-making by patients can effectively counter this undesired trend and boost their higher long-term post-traumatic growth.

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