Coping and Post-traumatic Growth Among COVID-19 Patients: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Pandemic diseases have caused dramatic changes in people’s lives throughout history. Today, the COVID-19 virus spreads rapidly and affects human beings around the globe. This study aimed to discover the coping strategies and post-traumatic growth (PTG) experiences of persons who were infected by the COVID-19 virus using the qualitative research method. The research involved 17 individuals, nine of whom were female. All had been diagnosed with COVID-19. Face-to-face and online interviews were conducted with participants. In the analysis of the data, the thematic analysis method was performed by developing themes and sub-themes. The created themes include coping strategies, existential growth, lessons learned from disease, new opportunities, and social growth. These themes indicated positive changes in the lives of persons who were infected by the COVID-19 virus after the COVID-19 disease. Findings and implications for the practice were discussed.

Post-Traumatic Growth and Resilience among Hospitalized COVID-19 Survivors: A Gendered Analysis

“…Relating to PTG, a study involving Chinese COVID-19 survivors found that PTG was facilitated by a reassessment of life priorities, goals, and values and appreciation of life [ 17 ]. Similar findings have been reported among COVID-19 survivors in Turkey [ 33 ]. In another study involving Chinese COVID-19 survivors, social support, self-stigma, receiving mental health care services during hospitalization, self-esteem, PTSD, and coping strategies significantly predicted PTG [ 20 , 34 ].…”

Back to life: Is it possible to be myself again? A qualitative study with persons initially hospitalised due to COVID-19

“…In the current study this was featured by a lower interest in material possessions or making a career. In addition, this emotional process was characterized by a greater interest in existential questions on the purpose and meaning of life ( 13 , 27 ). In the current analysis, these deeper questions were evident by reflections on meaning in life, about God’s existence, and about why they had survived while others had not.…”

“…In the current analysis, these deeper questions were evident by reflections on meaning in life, about God’s existence, and about why they had survived while others had not. According to prior research, such reflections may leave the person with deeper senses of meaning compared with before the serious event ( 12 , 13 , 28 ). It was also mentioned that a positive life orientation may create an important outlook for a person to deal with pain or to cope with chronic illnesses ( 28 ).…”

“…Furthermore, hospitalization due to critical illness has shown to correlate with stress syndrome and post-traumatic stress ( 10 ), depression and a decreased quality of life ( 11 ). Although critical illnesses may leave the survivor devastated, research has found that, with time, this experience may influence a personality change, making the person grow in a new direction ( 12 , 13 ). This phenomenon, known as post-traumatic growth (PTG), often entails a shift in priorities, giving intrinsic values and questions related to the philosophy of life greater significance ( 12 ).…”

Post-traumatic growth experience of first-line emergency nurses infected with COVID-19 during the epidemic period—A qualitative study in Shanghai, China

“…A semi-structured interview guide was created to guide actual interviewers in gathering data. Table 2 shows the interview questions included in the guide, which were constructed on the basis of previous research ( 25 – 27 ). The guide would start the interview with encouraging questions.…”