Posttraumatic growth and flourishing in the face of racial trauma.

Abstract

Objective: Examining well-being in the face of racial trauma is timely, clinically significant, and severely understudied, especially in Black populations. To address this gap, we investigated the relationship between flourishing and posttraumatic growth among Black undergraduates who reported a history of racial trauma. Method: Participants were 96 Black college students recruited from a predominantly White Midwestern university, all of whom reported experience of racial trauma. Participants completed the Flourishing Scale and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) in an online survey. Most were women/cisgender female/female (66.67%) and identified as religious (66%); 47% were first-generation college students. The average age of the sample was 21.14 (SD = 5.46). Results: We analyzed Flourishing and PTGI scores for students who were able to identify/recall a racially traumatic event/experience using linear regression. Results indicated that after controlling for sociodemographic factors, scores on the PTGI significantly predicted Flourishing scores and accounted for 29.4% of the variance. Conclusions: These findings suggest that those who are able to deepen connections with others, tap into their inner strengths, gain new perspectives and a new appreciation for life, and connect to spirituality not only grow but are more likely to report flourishing. Contributing empirical evidence to the reliability (a =.91) and validity of the Flourishing Scale for Black college students, our findings also have implications for educators and clinicians interested in helping Black students grow and flourish in the aftermath of racially traumatic events. Clinical Impact StatementWe found evidence of internal consistency reliability and convergent validity for the Flourishing Scale in a sample of Black college students who reported racial trauma, where posttraumatic growth and flourishing were significantly correlated. Fundamentally, drawing attention to possibilities for posttraumatic growth and flourishing in the aftermath of racial trauma, we offer an important strengths-based shift that balances a focus on adversity with a focus on empirically measured positive development. Namely, opportunities to connect with others, see new possibilities, identify strengths, tap into spirituality, and appreciate life are underscored.

Racial Differences in Biopsychosocial Pathways to Tobacco and Marijuana Use Among Youth

“…Additionally, resilience, fostered by collective experiences of overcoming adversity, may equip Black youth with the coping skills to resist peer pressure more effectively. This phenomenon underscores the importance of considering the protective factors that contribute to the health behaviors of minority youth, highlighting the need for nuanced approaches in public health strategies that go beyond the conventional understanding of risk factors [87,[93][94][95].…”

Multilevel sources of strength and school-based racial discrimination: Competing factors associated with mental health among African American college students.

“…Internal consistency scores supported the creation of a single composite score for each outcome. Both scales have been validated in African American populations (Grier-Reed et al, 2023; Keum et al, 2018).…”

Social connectedness and well-being among Black women who experienced adolescent sexual trauma.

“…Although not specific to sexual trauma, psychological flourishing as a measure of well-being may also be particularly important for Black young adults. For example, in a study of Black college students who self-reported having experienced racial trauma, posttraumatic growth—measured through the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory—significantly predicted self-perceptions of flourishing (Grier-Reed et al, 2023). It is possible that psychological flourishing could be an indicator of posttraumatic growth for Black survivors of sexual trauma, as well.…”