Resilience, Coping Strategies and Posttraumatic Growth in the Workplace Following COVID-19: A Narrative Review on the Positive Aspects of Trauma

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a traumatic event that has profoundly changed working conditions with detrimental consequences for workers’ health, in particular for the healthcare population directly involved in addressing the emergency. Nevertheless, previous research has demonstrated that traumatic experiences can also lead to positive reactions, stimulating resilience and feelings of growth. The aim of this narrative review is to investigate the positive aspects associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the possible health prevention and promotion strategies by analyzing the available scientific evidence. In particular, we focus on the constructs of resilience, coping strategies and posttraumatic growth (PTG). A literature search was performed on the PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Psycinfo databases. Forty-six articles were included in the literature synthesis. Psychological resilience is a fundamental variable for reducing and preventing the negative psychological effects of the pandemic and is associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety and burnout. At the individual and organizational level, resilience plays a crucial role in enhancing wellbeing in healthcare and non-healthcare workers. Connected to resilience, adaptive coping strategies are essential for managing the emergency and work-related stress. Several positive factors influencing resilience have been highlighted in the development of PTG. At the same time, high levels of resilience and positive coping strategies can enhance personal growth. Considering the possible long-term coexistence and consequences of COVID-19, organizational interventions should aim to improve workers’ adaptive coping skills, resilience and PTG in order to promote wellbeing.

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Working With a Psychopath: Is There Light at the End of the Tunnel?

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology ◽

10.1177/0306624x211058957 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0306624X2110589

Author(s):

Jayme Stewart ◽

Adelle Forth ◽

Janelle Beaudette

Keyword(s):

Coping Strategies ◽

Posttraumatic Growth ◽

Personal Growth ◽

Traumatic Event ◽

Positive Outcomes ◽

Mixed Methods Approach ◽

Approach Coping ◽

Corporate Psychopathy ◽

Being Bullied ◽

Work Family

Having a supervisor with psychopathic characteristics is related to being bullied, poorer job satisfaction, work/family life conflict, financial instability, and distress. To date, all research on corporate psychopathy victims considers how they are negatively impacted rather than potential positive outcomes. In response, this study examined how working with a psychopath impacts posttraumatic growth (PTG). Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, this study draws upon the experiences of 285 individuals who have worked with a colleague or supervisor with alleged psychopathic characteristics. Results indicated that approach coping and psychopathic characteristics predicted PTG. Qualitative analyses revealed that the majority of participants used various coping strategies (e.g., emotion-focused), received support (e.g., emotional), and underwent post-experiential growth or learning (e.g., positive personal growth); not all growth/learning was positive, however (e.g., less trusting). Results suggest that cultivating approach-focused coping strategies may enhance PTG following a traumatic event.

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SUBJEKTYVAUS TRAUMINIO PATYRIMO IR POTRAUMINIO AUGIMO BEI POTRAUMINIO STRESO SUTRIKIMO SĄSAJOS

Psichologija ◽

10.15388/psichol.2007.0.2856 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 35 ◽

pp. 7-18

Author(s):

Evaldas Kazlauskas ◽

Irma Šimėnaitė ◽

Danutė Gailienė

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Posttraumatic Growth ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Traumatic Event ◽

Life Time ◽

Human Mind ◽

Traumatic Experience ◽

Traumatic Experiences ◽

Impact Of Event Scale ◽

Event Scale

Potrauminis augimas yra teigiami psichologiniai padariniai po traumos, kurie pasireiškia savęs suvokimo, požiūrio į pasaulį ir tarpasmeninių santykių pokyčiais (Tedeschi and Calhoun, 1996). Pozityvūs procesai po traumos dar tik pradedami tyrinėti, todėl nėra žinoma, kokios yra potrauminio augimo (PTA), trauminio įvykio intensyvumo ir potrauminio streso sutrikimo (PTSS) sąsajos. Siekiant įvertinti ryšius tarp trauminės patirties ir PTSS bei PTA, buvo ištirti 104 studentiško amžiaus jaunuoliai, per savo gyvenimą patyrę bent vieną trauminį įvykį. Tako analizės modelis parodė, kad subjektyvus trauminės patirties intensyvumasyra veiksnys, reikšmingai prognozuojantis tiek PTSS, tiek PTA. Kuo reakcija į trauminį įvykį yra stipresnė, tuo labiau išreikšti PTSS ir PTA požymiai. Nustatytas nestiprus teigiamas ryšys tarp PTSS ir PTA parodė, kad, norėdami geriau suprasti, kaip jaučiasi asmenys po traumos, turime atsižvelgti ir į teigiamus (PTA), ir į neigiamus (PTSS) traumos padarinius. Pagrindiniai žodžiai: trauma, potrauminis stresas, potrauminis augimas.RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRAUMA EXPOSURE, POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH AND POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDEREvaldas Kazlauskas, Irma Šimėnaitė, Danutė Gailienė SummaryObjectives: The notion that traumatic experiences may have an impact on human mind is very old. Recent developments in psychotraumatology shifted the approach to a trauma from a purely negative to a more positive perspective. Research confirmed that traumatic events may lead not only to posttraumatic stress or other disorders, but also to positive changes. The present research was based on the concept of Posttraumatic Growth developed by Calhoun and Tedeschi (1996), which is widely known in the field of traumatic stress. Although the number of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) research is growing rapidly, little is known about Posttraumatic Growth predictors. The present research was designed to find out the links between Posttraumatic Growth, Posttraumatic Stress and initial reactions to the traumatic event. We set up two goals of the study: 1) evaluation of how initial traumatic reactions predict PTG, and 2) assessment of links between PTG and PTSD.Methods: A group of 104 university students exposed to at least one life-time traumatic event participated in the study. The average time gap between exposure to a traumatic event and the time of research was 43 months. The intensity of initial reactions to a traumatic event was measured using a 10-item selfrating inventory developed by the authors of the present study. The Subjective Traumatic Experience (STE) inventory consisted of items covering cognitive, emotional and physiological reactions to a traumatic event. Posttraumatic Growth was measured using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PGI) developed by Tedeschi and Calhoun (1996). Previous research showed satisfactory psychometric properties of the Lithuanian version of PGI (Gailienë & Kazlauskas, 2005). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder was measured using the Lithuanian version of Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R). A recent validation of the IES-R on Lithuanian population showed its good psychometric properties (Kazlauskas et al., 2006).

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The Experience of Trauma Resulting From the Loss of a Child and Posttraumatic Growth—The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies (Loss of a Child, PTG, and Coping)

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.1177/0030222817724699 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 80 (1) ◽

pp. 104-119 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nina Ogińska-Bulik ◽

Magdalena Kobylarczyk

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Posttraumatic Growth ◽

Traumatic Event ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Brief Cope ◽

Loss Of A Child ◽

And Coping ◽

The Relationship

The aim of the study was to determine the mediating role of coping strategies in the relationship between intensity of trauma resulting from the loss of a child and posttraumatic growth (PTG). The study included a group of 76 persons who regarded the loss of a child as a traumatic event. The majority (55.3%) of respondents were women. The age of the participants ranged from 18 to 62 years ( M = 35.88; SD = 9.52). A visual scale to measure intensity of trauma was used, and the Polish versions of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory and Coping Inventory (Brief-Cope). The subjects revealed PTG, primarily in terms of appreciating of life and relating to others. Seeking social support, both emotional and instrumental, plays a mediating role between the intensity of trauma and PTG. Encouraging people who have experienced trauma to seek social support may not only enable adaptation to the situation but also contribute to the occurrence of PTG.

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Posttraumatic growth and predictor variables in Brazilian women with breast cancer

Psicooncología ◽

10.5209/psic.68243 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 91-103

Author(s):

Carolina Villanova Quiroga ◽

Luísa Raquel Bridi Dacroce ◽

Tânia Rudnicki ◽

Irani Iracema De Lima Argimon

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Posttraumatic Growth ◽

Exploratory Study ◽

Positive Change ◽

Self Report ◽

Predictor Variables ◽

Adaptive Coping ◽

The World ◽

Oncologic Treatment

Objective: Breast cancer is the most prevalent oncologic diagnosis given to women all around the world, and can cause diverse psychiatric symptomatologies and damage to the life of its carrier. The concept of posttraumatic growth (PTG) focuses on the perception of a positive change from the experience of a stressing situation. This study’s objective was to evaluate PTG and different predictor variables for women (n=84) with breast cancer in Brazil. Method: On this exploratory study, self-report scales referring to the diagnosis period and oncologic treatment were applied individually. Results: Having a husband/partner, adaptive coping strategies and a religion of identification were found to be predictor variables in different established regressive models. Rumination did not show any correlation to PTG scores, refuting the results of previous studies. The results found in this study confirm previous research as for PTG predictors, except for rumination. Conclusions: Positive changes resulting from experiencing breast cancer are present in Brazilian women and different interventions can be thought of based on the study of predictors.

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Associations of Historical Loss, Resilience, and Coping with Loss-related Emotional Symptoms in the Anishinaabe

American Journal of Health Behavior ◽

10.5993/ajhb.44.2.11 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 244-251

Author(s):

Charlee N. Brissette ◽

Z. Erum Whyne ◽

H. Matthew Lehrer ◽

Jihun Woo ◽

Mary A. Steinhardt

Keyword(s):

Native Americans ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Psychological Resilience ◽

Adaptive Coping ◽

Emotional Symptoms ◽

Community Members ◽

Maladaptive Coping ◽

Historical Loss ◽

And Coping

Objectives: Native Americans have higher rates of mental health symptoms and chronic disease compared to the general population, partly due to historical loss (eg, land, language, culture). Few studies have examined strength-based characteristics that enable Native populations to cope with loss and reduce loss-related emotional symptoms (eg, anxiety, anger). Methods: We recruited 81 participants (mean age 47.9 years; 61% female) in a midwestern Anishinaabe community using convenience sampling. Participants completed questionnaires assessing historical loss, loss-related emotional symptoms, psychological resilience, and maladaptive and adaptive coping strategies. Hierarchical regression analyses examined associations of historical loss, psychological resilience, and coping strategies with loss-related emotional symptoms after controlling for demographics. Results: Historical loss ( β = .56, p < .001) and maladaptive coping strategies ( β = .23, p < .05) were positively associated with loss-related symptoms among Anishinaabe community members; psychological resilience was inversely associated with loss-related symptoms ( β = -.21, p < .05). Adaptive coping strategies ( β = .02, p > .05) were not associated with loss-related symptoms. Conclusions: Findings suggest that historical loss is associated with loss-related emotional symptoms in the Anishinaabe population. Public health programs that foster psychological resilience and reduce maladaptive coping strategies are needed to address these loss-related symptoms.

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Psychological Resilience and Posttraumatic Growth: An Exploratory Analysis

Journal of Experiential Education ◽

10.1177/1053825919859027 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 (3) ◽

pp. 280-296

Author(s):

Alan Ewert ◽

Sharon Tessneer

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Growth ◽

Experiential Education ◽

Traumatic Event ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Psychological Resilience ◽

Resilience Scale ◽

Comparison Groups ◽

Posttraumatic Growth Inventory ◽

The Relationship ◽

The U.S

Background: Epidemiological studies indicate that a majority of the U.S. population has been exposed to at least one traumatic event in their lives. In addition, resilience has become a variable of increasing interest in both society and the field of experiential education (EE). Purpose: In this study, the relationship between psychological resilience, posttraumatic growth (PTG), and participation in EE activities is examined. Methodology/Approach: To measure semester-long changes in resilience, the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale was used at the beginning and end of an EE program and four different comparison groups. Using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and focusing on a 3-week portion of that EE program, PTG was measured using a pre/post format. Findings/Conclusions: Results indicated that EE programming is effective at building resilience but less so for PTG. In addition, no significant differences were noted between females and males on the PTGI scale. Implications: The results of this exploratory study increase our understanding of what psychological changes occur during a semester-long adventure-based EE curriculum with a 3-week high-intensity experience embedded in the program.

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Posttraumatic Growth Impacts Views of Others’ Trauma: The Roles of Shared Experience and Gender

Journal of Humanistic Psychology ◽

10.1177/0022167820961928 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 002216782096192

Author(s):

Alex C. Orille ◽

Velinka Marton ◽

Kanako Taku

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Growth ◽

Emotional Expression ◽

Gender Stereotypes ◽

Traumatic Event ◽

Traumatic Experiences ◽

Shared Experience ◽

Growth Types ◽

And Gender ◽

Car Accident ◽

The Relationship

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) may foster skills that allow one to understand traumatic experiences in others. The primary aim of this study is to determine the relationship between an individual’s PTG reports and their ability to relate to two growth types, PTG and illusory growth. The purpose of this study is to elucidate perceptions of illusory growth and PTG so clinicians may more readily identify catalysts for growth and customize treatments. Participants were read two vignettes that detailed the experience of PTG and illusory growth as a result of a specific traumatic event (i.e., car accident). They completed a questionnaire regarding their perceptions of the vignettes. Results revealed that participants with higher PTG were more likely to relate to the PTG vignette than the illusory growth vignette, and when participants had experienced the same event in the vignette (i.e., car accident), this relationship was stronger. Last, participants mostly perceived the PTG vignette as female, and the illusory growth vignette as male. Our results suggest that interventions following traumatic experiences could be best facilitated/supplemented by reflective interactions with others who have experienced similar events. Considering one’s gender may be important in order to ensure that gender stereotypes regarding emotional expression are mitigated.

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