The Posttraumatic Growth model: An expansion to the family system.

Abstract

This article focuses on expanding Calhoun and Tedeschi's model of posttraumatic growth (PTG) to the family system level. PTG has been conceptualized as an outcome on multiple levels, including individuals, families, and communities. However, in the original model the family is mostly viewed as the context for individual growth, whereas in this article the family is the unit that grows. The proposed conceptualization is consistent with the paradigmatic shift from a deficit-based perspective to a strength-based perspective of family functioning in general and in the aftermath of trauma in particular. The first part of the article briefly introduces the PTG model. The second part identifies and illustrates the family system parallels of the six components of the model: pretrauma characteristics, a traumatic/ highly stressful event, challenges, rumination, social context, and posttraumatic growth. The third part addresses future directions.

Anticipating Posttraumatic Growth from Cancer: Patients’ and Collaterals’ Experiences

“…Berger and Weiss (2009) identified a number of PTG components generalizable to a family system, including stressor event characteristics, challenges, and family rumination. The cancer experience affects the family system by disrupting the family, which may subsequently impact the manner in which family members interact, perform tasks, make decisions, and engage in problem solving.…”

“…The most commonly used PTG instrument-PTGI (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996)-assesses growth from an individualistic perspective. Future research should target specific aspects of family growth to include areas such as family identity/legacy, intimate interpersonal relationships, family priorities, and changes in family values/belief systems (Berger & Weiss, 2009). Also, additional research examining cultural considerations related to PTG is needed.…”

Posttraumatic Growth in Parents and Pediatric Patients

“…70,[80][81][82] At the general level, race and ethnicity appear to play an important role, although evidence is conflicted. 54,67,76 More robust evidence exists for the role of local elements in PTG.…”

“…The patient's behavioral response itself can serve as a stressor for other family members and may result in family members exhibiting a greater degree of both PTSS and PTG. 80 The empirical evidence for the role of these relationships in pediatric disease is, however, limited; one study has shown that mutual coping and thinking can lead to more pronounced PTG among parents, 29 while another showed no correlation between parental PTG and the pediatric patient's degree of benefit finding. 50 …”

Conscripted without Induction Order: Wives of Former Combat Veterans with PTSD Speak

“…Studies have indicated that the family is one of the most important resources, affecting both resilient and healthy development, as well as vulnerability as a reaction to potential traumatic events (e.g., Bronfenbrenner, 2005;Hobfoll, 2001). McCubbin and his colleagues (McCubbin, Boss, Wilson, & Lester, 1980;McCubbin & Patterson, 1982;McCubbin et al, 1998) as well as other researchers (Berger & Weiss, 2009;Wadsworth, 2010), when explaining variability in military families' responses to the crises of war, observed that many families moved from crises to successful adaptation and resiliency. Family resilience implies the capacity of a family to successfully manage challenging life circumstances-now or in the future (Walsh, 1998).…”