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The challenging journey from trauma to post-traumatic growth : Lived experiences of facilitating and hindering factors

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Title: The challenging journey from trauma to post-traumatic growth : Lived experiences of facilitating and hindering factors
Authors: Bryngeirsdottir, Hulda S., Halldorsdottir, Sigridur
Contributors: Centre of Doctoral Studies, School of Health Sciences
Publication Year: 2021
Subject Terms: Sálræn áföll, Endurhæfing, phenomenology, post-traumatic growth, psychosocial nursing, public health, qualitative approaches, qualitative interviews, rehabilitation, trauma, Humans, Male, Psychological, Female, Anxiety, Qualitative Research, Adaptation, Environmental and Occupational Health, socio
Description: Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Nordic College of Caring Science. ; Background: Many people experience psychological trauma during their lifetime, often negatively affecting their mental and physical health. Post-traumatic growth is a positive psychological change that may occur in an individual after having processed and coped with trauma. This journey, however, has not been studied enough. Aim: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore people's experience of suffering psychological trauma, the personal effects of the trauma and the transition from trauma to post-traumatic growth. Methods: A purposeful sample of seven women and five men, aged 34–52, were selected whose backgrounds and history of trauma varied, but who had all experienced post-traumatic growth. One to two interviews were conducted with each one, in all 14 interviews. Results: This study introduces a unique mapping of the challenging journey from trauma to post-traumatic growth through lived experiences of people who have experienced trauma as well as post-traumatic growth. Participants had different trauma experience, but their suffering shaped them all as persons and influenced their wellbeing, health and view of life. Participants described post-traumatic growth as a journey, rather than a destination. There was a prologue to their journey which some described as a hindering factor while others felt it was a good preparation for post-traumatic growth, i.e. to overcome difficulties at an early age. Participants described six main influencing factors on their post-traumatic growth, both facilitating and hindering ones. They also described the positive personal changes they had undergone when experiencing post-traumatic growth even though the epilogue also included heavy days. A new theoretical definition of post-traumatic growth was constructed from the findings. Conclusion: The results suggest that the journey to post-traumatic .
Document Type: article in journal/newspaper
Language: English
Relation: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/3716
Availability: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/3716
Rights: undefined
Accession Number: edsbas.7E31CB5E
Database: BASE
Description
Abstract:Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Nordic College of Caring Science. ; Background: Many people experience psychological trauma during their lifetime, often negatively affecting their mental and physical health. Post-traumatic growth is a positive psychological change that may occur in an individual after having processed and coped with trauma. This journey, however, has not been studied enough. Aim: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore people's experience of suffering psychological trauma, the personal effects of the trauma and the transition from trauma to post-traumatic growth. Methods: A purposeful sample of seven women and five men, aged 34–52, were selected whose backgrounds and history of trauma varied, but who had all experienced post-traumatic growth. One to two interviews were conducted with each one, in all 14 interviews. Results: This study introduces a unique mapping of the challenging journey from trauma to post-traumatic growth through lived experiences of people who have experienced trauma as well as post-traumatic growth. Participants had different trauma experience, but their suffering shaped them all as persons and influenced their wellbeing, health and view of life. Participants described post-traumatic growth as a journey, rather than a destination. There was a prologue to their journey which some described as a hindering factor while others felt it was a good preparation for post-traumatic growth, i.e. to overcome difficulties at an early age. Participants described six main influencing factors on their post-traumatic growth, both facilitating and hindering ones. They also described the positive personal changes they had undergone when experiencing post-traumatic growth even though the epilogue also included heavy days. A new theoretical definition of post-traumatic growth was constructed from the findings. Conclusion: The results suggest that the journey to post-traumatic .