Posttraumatic growth, posttraumatic depreciation and beyond: Exploring the applicability of quantitative measures in Sierra Leone

Abstract

Background and objectives

People report of both, posttraumatic growth (PTG) and posttraumatic depreciation (PTD) after experiencing traumatic events. This study's aim in Sierra Leone was to explore the applicability of the expanded Posttraumatic Growth and Depreciation Inventory (PTGDI-X) and to examine the relationship between PTG and PTD, alongside predictive theory-driven variables. We also investigated communal and societal PTG, using the Individual and Collective Posttraumatic Growth Scale (ICPTGS).

Method

The PTGDI-X factorial structure was evaluated by confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) of data of 280 students who met DSM-5 trauma criteria. 219 participants, indicating that the event affected their community, and 113 participants, reporting it to have transformed the Sierra Leonean society, answered to the ICPTGS.

Results

The PTGDI-X factor structure, proposed as cross-culturally invariant, was not applicable to the Sierra Leonean sample, but the use of the instrument's total scores was. PTG and PTD were found to co-exist, with predictive variables showing significant impacts on both constructs (e.g., disclosure, core beliefs disruption). Collective PTG outcomes in Sierra Leone were confirmed.

Conclusion

The findings indicated to measure PTG and PTD together, however top-down approaches to reveal only limited culture-specific insights. A broader conceptualization of growth, beyond the personal level was recommended.