Psychometric Properties of the PTGI and Resilience in Earthquake Survivors in Mexico

Abstract

This study analyzed the psychometric properties of the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) in a Mexican sample assessed within 2 months of a major earthquake and examined its relationship with resilience. A sample of 198 participants affected by the earthquake was chosen. The exploratory factor analysis revealed three factors: relationship with others (RO), personal strength (PS), and appreciation of life (AL). The results indicate good reliability, both for the total PTGI (α = 0.95) and for each factor: RO = 0.924, PS = 0.886, AL = 0.856. Because post-traumatic growth has been pointed out to be more characteristic of highly vulnerable people, the positive correlation (r = 0.456) found with resilience suggests that vulnerability is probably not a necessary condition for post-traumatic growth. We can conclude that PTGI is a reliable instrument and that the factorial structure of the instrument seems to vary in different cultures.

Keywords:

• Natural disasters
• traumatic experience
• factor structure
• factor analysis

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Julio C. Penagos-Corzo

Julio C. Penagos-Corzo, PhD, is a full-time Professor and SNI-CONACYT Researcher at Psychology Department of UDLAP, Mexico. He is the Vice-president for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean of the Interamerican Society of Psychology (SIP).

César R. Tolamatl

César R. Tolama, MD, works as a counselor at a Health Center of Health Secretary of Puebla State.

Alhelí Espinosa

Alhelí Espinosa, MD, is a PhD student and works as teacher on online college courses.

Alexis Lorenzo Ruiz

Alexis Lorenzo, PhD, is a full-time Professor at Psychology School at La Habana University, Cuba. He is the President of the Cuban Society of Psychology

Sheila Pintado

Sheila Pintado, PhD, is an Associate Professor and SNI-CONACYT Researcher at Psychology Department of UDLAP, Mexico. She works on psycho-oncology, and mindfulness.