Post-traumatic Growth and it’s associations with Deliberate Rumination, Self-disclosure, and Social Support among Intensive Care Unit Nurses

Purpose : This study aimed to identify intensive care units (ICU) nurses’ experience of traumatic events, deliberate rumination, self-disclosure, social support, and post-traumatic growth (PTG), and to explore relationships among the variables.Methods : Participants were 157 nurses who have provided direct patient care for six months or more in ICUs at a university hospital. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVAs, Pearson correlations, and multiple linear regressions using the SPSS/WIN version 23.0.Results : The PTG was found to be significantly associated with deliberate rumination (r=0.36, p<.001), self-disclosure (r=0.39, p<.001), and social support (r=0.54, p<.001). Factors that affect PTG significantly were found in the order of social support (β=0.40, p<.001), self-disclosure (β=0.25, p<.001), and deliberate rumination (β=0.24, p<.001). The final regression model explained 40.1% of the variance of PTG (F=26.33, p<.001).Conclusion : The influencing factors identified in this study on PTG, including social support, self-disclosure, and deliberate rumination should be included in programs to promote PTG for ICU nurses who may experience traumatic events repeatedly.