Advantages of distinguishing perceived and veridical growth: recommendations for future research on both constructs

ABSTRACT

Research on post-traumatic growth (PTG) has burgeoned in recent years. Nearly all of the research on PTG, however, has relied on retrospective assessments of perceived growth. These reports are minimally related to prospectively assessed positive change after trauma, and what they may reflect remains unknown. In this paper, we: (1) examine the evidence regarding the disjunction between real and perceived growth, (2) conduct a systematic review to determine whether researchers distinguish between veridical and perceived growth, and (3) present four possible constructs that perceived growths may reflect: a) adherence to a cultural script, b) reappraisal coping through secondary control or self-enhancement; c) changes in narrative identity; and d) violation of post-recovery expectations. We provide suggestions for testing each of these constructs. We recommend that researchers be more explicit when perception of growth is their focus, determine optimal methods for assessing these perceptions, and conduct research on their meaning and implications.

KEYWORDS:

• Posttraumatic growth
• trauma
• review
• validity

Acknowledgments

All three authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of this manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the paper for submission.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The alphabetical ordering of the authors’ names reflects their equal contribution to this paper. Jayawickreme was supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation (grant #60699 to Frank J. Infurna and Eranda Jayawickreme). The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.