Examining posttraumatic growth among Japanese university students

Anxiety Stress Coping. 2007 Dec;20(4):353-67. doi: 10.1080/10615800701295007.

Abstract

To determine the underlying factor structure of the Japanese version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-J), a principal components analysis was performed on data from 312 Japanese undergraduate students who reported growth due to their most traumatic event within the last 5 years. Results showed the PTGI-J has high internal consistency and, of the original five factors reported by Tedeschi and Calhoun (1996), three were replicated: Relating to Others, New Possibilities, Personal Strength, and a fourth factor integrating Spiritual Change and Appreciation of Life emerged. There were neither gender differences nor relationships with time since trauma. PTGI-J scores were positively associated with posttraumatic symptoms and correlated with type of traumatic event experienced. These results and future directions are discussed from a cross-cultural viewpoint.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aging / psychology
  • Emotions
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Personality*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
  • Students
  • Universities