Abstract
Over the past two decades, there has been an exponential increase in studies investigating posttraumatic growth (PTG) in samples exposed to various traumatic experiences. The prevalence of PTG following trauma has been variable, and mixed findings have emerged pertaining to factors associated with PTG. To date, however, there has been a notable paucity of research that has considered the PTG phenomenon in relation to lifespan developmental, cognitive, and humanistic theories. The objective of this review is to evaluate the prominent theory of PTG proposed by Tedeschi and Calhoun (Citation1996) in context of the theories of Erikson and Maslow, as well as Frankl's theory of meaning-making postadversity. Methodological issues are also considered to inform the advancement of future research in this field.
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Philippa Eve
Philippa Eve is a Masters student in the Clinical Psychology program at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. As part of her Masters research dissertation she investigated the relationship between self-reported posttraumatic growth (PTG) and health-related behavioral, action-oriented changes in a recent cohort of adult cancer patients compared to a healthy cohort of adult individuals.
Maria Kangas
Maria Kangas, PhD, is an Associate Professor in Psychology and clinical psychologist at Macquarie University, where she directs the Master of Clinical Psychology program. Her clinical and research expertise is with medical/health, traumatized and stressed populations across the lifespan.