Meaning, social support, and resilience as predictors of posttraumatic growth: A study of the Louisiana flooding of August 2016.

Abstract

Individuals who survive natural hazards often develop posttraumatic stress symptoms or other forms of psychological distress. However, some experience psychological growth. Given that the probability that such events will increase in the near future due to global warming, it would probably be helpful to examine predictors of growth across different kinds of natural hazards.The present study examined positive psychological factors that may serve as buffers against the negative effects of exposure to a natural hazard, specifically following the Louisiana flooding of August 2016. Volunteer participants (N = 120) self-reported perceived presence and search for meaning in life, social support, resilience, and posttraumatic growth (PTG). After controlling for amount of property damaged, posttraumatic stress symptoms, sex, religiosity, and ethnicity/race, presence and search for meaning, social support, and resilience explained significant additional variance in PTG scores. This research adds to our growing understanding of how individuals respond to natural hazards.

Meaning in Life among New Mothers before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Mothers’ Marital Satisfaction and Perception of the Infant

“…The differences found here between the research groups indicate that the level of meaning in life was lower during the pandemic, whereas the level of search for meaning was higher. This is in line with previous studies showing that while the presence of meaning is related to circumstances of well-being and happiness, the search for meaning is a result of stressful situations, such as an external crisis (Boullion et al, 2020 ; Li et al, 2020 ). Thus, before the pandemic, mothers tended to experience the highly significant transition to motherhood in a more positive way, with a greater sense that their life was meaningful.…”

“…At the same time, the crisis may have other salient consequences, as they expose the individual to existential concerns about the value and meaning of life (Steger et al, 2006 ; Van Tongeren et al, 2017 ). Meaning in life is composed of two dimensions: the presence of meaning , expressed in a sense of coherence, purpose, and significance toward one’s existence, surrounding events, and the comprehensibility of reality; and search for meaning , aroused by feelings of emptiness and lack of understanding of life's value and purpose (Boullion et al, 2020 ; Steger et al, 2006 ). Studies suggest that whereas well-being and happiness are associated with the presence of meaning in life, distress is related to the search for meaning (Crego et al, 2020 ; Li et al, 2020 ; Steger et al, 2008 ).…”

The Mediating Role of Meaning in Life in the Effects of Calling on Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Growth: A Longitudinal Study of Navy Soldiers Deployed to the Gulf of Aden

“…Previous studies on PTG identified a positive interpretation of the meaning in a life-threatening event as a key mechanism for establishing PTG (Park and Ai, 2006;Boullion et al, 2020). Soldiers with traumatic experiences feel distressed when their belief system is challenged.…”

“…PTSD is characterized by negative symptoms manifested after being exposed to traumatic events, such as experiencing firsthand a life-threatening event (e.g., war, combat, disaster, or loss of life), witnessing people dying, or responding primarily to such events. Typical symptoms include avoiding irritations related to traumatic experiences, reexperiencing traumatic events, and hypersensitivity (American Psychiatric and Association, 2013;Zhang et al, 2018;Boullion et al, 2020).…”

Subjective well-being and social-emotional loneliness of university students: The mediating effect of the meaning of life

“…In a study conducted by Yeung and Fan (2013), it was found that with the increase of social isolation and subjective loneliness, a significant decrease in the perception of a meaningful life occurs. In addition, it has been showed that social support perceived by family, friends and significant others has a positive significant relationship with the perception of a meaningful life (Alice et al, 2019;Boullion et al, 2020;Lin et al, 2020). Furthermore, it was found in some studies that individuals who are engaged in romantic relationships have higher levels of meaning in life (Klefteras & Pserra, 2012;Taş, 2011).…”