Posttraumatic growth, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and psychological health in traumatically injured patients in mainland China

Abstract

Background

Traumatically injured patients experience psychopathological and positive changes after the traumatic injury. Whether positive changes are related to better psychological health is an intriguing question that has emerged in the literature.

Methods

One hundred thirty‐two participants completed the study. Demographic and injury data and degree of posttraumatic growth (PTG) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were collected at baseline (within 3 months after injury). PTG, PTSD, depression, satisfaction with life, and psychological well‐being measures were collected at a 1‐year follow‐up.

Results

PTG was positively associated with PTSD in the early stage of traumatic injury but was unrelated with PTSD at the 1‐year follow‐up. PTG at different time points significantly predicted psychological health outcomes. Delayed PTSD rather than early PTSD was the significant predictor of psychological health outcomes.

Conclusions

The results support the adjustment value of PTG, and health‐care providers should address both positive and psychopathological changes to promote the recovery of traumatically injured patients.

Abstract

Key words:

• posttraumatic growth
• posttraumatic stress symptoms
• psychological health
• recovery
• traumatically injured patients

Funding: The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

Conflict of interest: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Funding: The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

Conflict of interest: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Acknowledgements

We thank everyone who participated in this study and also to Sunshine Rehabilitation Centre, Qibao Rehabilitation Centre, Orthopaedic Trauma Centre of the Eighth People's Hospital, and Orthopaedic Trauma Centre of Shanghai University of Sport.

Notes

Funding: The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

Conflict of interest: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.