Post-traumatic Growth in the First COVID Outbreak in Hong Kong

Abstract

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) emerges from highly stressful situations. The coronavirus (COVID) pandemic may qualify as one. This study investigated the PTG among Hong Kong citizens during the first outbreak in spring 2020, shortly after a large-scale social movement subsided. A longitudinal online survey was launched during the peak (Time 1) and the palliation (Time 2) of the outbreak. Among the 327 participants who completed both waves, 28.4% exhibited probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Time 1, while 18.0% reported significant PTG in at least one domain in Time 2. The interaction between the sense of coherence (SOC) and post-traumatic stress mediated the relationship between Time 1 perceived outbreak severity and Time 2 PTG, such that PTG was more likely among participants with higher post-traumatic stress and SOC. PTG was also associated with a weaker contingency between Time 1 and Time 2 perceived outbreak severity. Echoing the transformational model, our findings show that both experienced stress and coping resources are essential for PTG to emerge. We also demonstrated how PTG might lead to more flexible risk perceptions according to the development of the outbreak.

Mental Health Screening of Healthcare Professionals Who Are Candidates for Psychological Assistance during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…There is evidence that, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals have had a high risk of suffering psychological consequences, such as symptoms of distress, anxiety, and depression [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 70 , 71 ]. The epidemiological data confirm that the past year has seen a rise in the prevalence and severity of these psychological symptoms among this group [ 20 , 33 , 72 ].…”

“…This means that these two groups have less ability to cope with distress than doctors, who show a higher average value and, thus, a greater adaptive response ability and lower risk of suffering from any associated mental disorder. It should be taken into account that nurses and nursing assistants have been permanently on the frontline, and this prolonged contact with patients may have led to greater distress and a reduced adaptive ability [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 33 ]. In a situation as drawn out as this, HCPs and mainly nurses and nursing assistants are particularly susceptible to mental health consequences such as anxiety and depression [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 77 , 78 ].…”

“…The results of previous research confirm the serious nature of the emotional distress suffered by HCPs during and/or after epidemic outbreaks and highlight that many of them present other mental health symptoms, such as anxiety and depression [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Moreover, after stressful events, a stress post-traumatic growth can emerge as a psychological consequence of the pandemic [ 20 ].…”

Entrepreneurial Resilience: A Case Study on University Students

“…NLEs are anxiogenic situations that are highly likely to affect well-being. Nevertheless, studies indicate that sometimes these experiences become personal situations of coping and sustaining future well-being [ 109 , 110 ]. In line with the other researches [ 111 , 112 ], we posit that intrapersonal and exopersonal GRRs recognised by the participants would strengthen SOC through learning acquired in NLEs [ 41 ].…”

COVID-19 pandemic-related posttraumatic growth in a small cohort of university students: A 1-year longitudinal study

“…( Bridgland et al, 2021 ; Idsoe et al, 2021 ; Kalaitzaki, 2021 ). Moreover, traumatic stress reactions during the pandemic—including intrusive re-experiencing and heightened arousal—are found to be particularly prevalent ( Cooke et al, 2020 ; Lau et al, 2021 ). One question that remains, however, is to what extent the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic results in not just negative but positive trauma outcomes, often referred to as posttraumatic growth ( Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004 )…”